Trial nears for handyman accused of stabbing retired social worker to death

SUSSEX COUNTY Attorneys are nearly ready to move to trial in the case of a handyman accused of stabbing a woman to death after she returned home from church, the New Jersey Herald reports.

As previously reported by the Star-Ledger, Gregg Murphy is charged with killing Mariann Ferreira, 56, on Dec. 3, 2012, by repeatedly stabbing her in her home in rural Green Township. Law enforcement officials have said Murphy admitted killing Ferreira, but could not provide any reason.

"He admitted stabbing the victim multiple times with the purpose of killing her. He acknowledged he had no justification and couldnt say why he did it," First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti shortly after the arrest, during Murphys first appearance in Superior Court.

The Herald quoted Mueller saying all discovery in the case is complete, and all that's left to be decided is whether Murphy will have a bench trial or a jury trial.

Murphy is being held in the Sussex County Jail on $750,000 bail.

Prior to retiring in January of 2012, Ferreira worked for the Morris County Division of Aging, Disability and Veterans, helping people find assisted-living facilities for themselves and loved ones.

Ferreira's son told the Star-Ledger in 2013 Murphy had often done work at Ferreira 's house. He'd recently uilt a deck on one side of her home. urphy did high-quality work and his prices were fair, which worked well for Ferreira, as she didn't have much money, her son said.

She felt bad for him and she wanted to help him out. She kept giving him work" and trusted him, Jared Ferreira said at the time.

Louis C. Hochman may be reached at lhochman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LouisCHochman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Trial nears for handyman accused of stabbing retired social worker to death