Gloversville man sentenced in stabbing death

By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN — Edward D. Jones was sentenced in Fulton County Court this afternoon to 7 1/2 to 15 years in state prison for second-degree manslaughter in the 2007 fatal stabbing of David Lamphear.

Jones had originally been convicted on felony counts of second-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, but Judge Richard C. Giardino reduced the assault conviction to second-degree assault.

"[Jones'] mental state, as found by the jury, supports a conviction of assault in the second degree rather than assault in the first degree," the decision states.

Jones' attorney, Roger L. Paul of Northville, had maintained that because his client was convicted on the first-degree assault count, then he should have been convicted on the first-degree manslaughter count because both required "intent."

Paul has said his client, who is black and convicted in a case involving a white victim, did not get a fair shake in his case.

He said today that a notice of appeal will be filed with the Court Clerk's office.

Giardino also sentenced Jones to seven years for the second-degree assault conviction and time served for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Giardino said the sentences are to run concurrently.

Fulton County District Attorney Louise K. Sira previously said Jones faced eight to 25 years in state prison based on the conviction of the top count of first-degree assault — a felony. The defendant has a prior criminal record for selling drugs in North Carolina.

The Fulton County Court jury took about five hours Dec. 10 to convict Jones, 39, of Gloversville for the March 1 fatal stabbing of Lamphear, 39, of 428 Seven Hills Road, Northampton, at his home. The decision capped off a six-day trial.

He stabbed Lamphear once in the upper left abdomen, causing a deep wound.

Lamphear died March 15 at Albany Medical Center Hospital from complications during treatment, officials testified.

Paul had claimed Lamphear had been drinking and came at his client in a violent attack, breaking one of Jones’ arms and shattering the window of his truck.

Testimony throughout the trial showed that the black Jones, who was dating Lamphear’s former girlfriend, Holly Walker, was often called a “n----r” by the stabbing victim.

More on this story will be available in Tuesday's print edition of The Leader-Herald.