Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 32-year-old William Hemphill, Jr. of Buffalo has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Paul B. Wojtaszek to 23 years in prison.

On September 2, 2016, the defendant stabbed 52-year-old Paul Held of Buffalo who died from his injuries.

Hemphill pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree in March 2018.

John P. Feroleto, Chief of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Louis C. Mussari of the DA’s Special Investigations Unit prosecuted the case.