Main Street Nashville
NASHVILLE WEATHER
physicians-mutual-dental-insurance-banners

Father of stabbing victim shares faith with killer at sentencing hearing





MosleyCourtesy / MNPD

MosleyCourtesy / MNPD

In a sentencing hearing Thursday, songwriter Casey Beathard shared a hope that the 2019 murder of his son would bring some good in the life of his son’s killer.

Clay Beathard, 22, and his friend Paul Trapeni, 21, were stabbed outside a Midtown bar by Michael Mosley in a December 2019 brawl.

Clay Beathard and Trapeni died from their injuries. Their friend, fellow Battle Ground Academy graduate A. J. Bethurum, was also stabbed. He lost sight in his left eye.

Mosley was convicted of two first-degree murder charges, an attempted murder charge and an assault charge for punching another man in the fight.

Casey Beathard was in emotional agony as he gave his statement. He said his family was grateful for what God was doing in the tragedy.

He presented his faith to Mosley, saying that God pursues the “one more.” Casey Beathard said he was the “one more” years ago.

“The Lord in me just says ‘You are that one more,’ and this is not going to be wasted,” he told Mosley. “Michael, I talked to your family, man, and I know it. I know the Lord loves you, and don’t you forget it.”

Casey Beathard said the tragedy had made the family’s faith stronger and shown them the fleeting aspect of life.

“We are going to see Clay again soon, and that is the hope we carry,” he said.

Casey Beathard closed his statement in tears, saying that his family’s prayer was that his son and Mosley would be friends in heaven.

As he spoke, Mosley’s sister nodded and wept from the gallery.

Caroline Mitchell, the sister of Trapeni, spoke of the impact her brother’s death has had on the family and his girlfriend of three years.

“We lose him over and over again,” she said. “Every big day and every first without him.”

Mitchell said Trapeni invested in people and loved them abundantly.

“Paul is the true victim without a voice, without a future,” she said.

Bethurum wrote a statement that was read to the court. He said the loss of sight in his left eye was a small impact compared to the emotional trauma of the loss of his friends.

“We will carry on their legacy, their spirit and their desire to do good in this world,” he wrote.

Mosley himself read a letter to the victims’ families saying that he was sincerely sorry. His older brother was murdered in 2016. After that, his life became dull, he said.

Mosley said that despite what the state argued, he never intended to kill the victims. It was an impulsive decision.

“I pray y’all find peace,” he said to the families.

The state pointed out Mosley’s prior violent convictions, including multiple felonies.

Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman said the charge of attempted murder had enhancing factors. She asked for consecutive sentencing, meaning Mosley would be sentenced to 102 years for the two murder convictions plus the sentence for attempted murder, which is up to 60 years.

Defense attorney Ken Quillen provided some rebuttals to the state’s arguments. His mitigating factors were not argued in court.

Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton said she would methodically consider the enhancing and mitigating factors and issue a ruling by the end of next week.

Leave a Reply