A Morgan County petit jury found a Martinsburg man guilty of manslaughter at the end of last week’s trial in Morgan county Circuit Court.
Gabriel Cardwell, 22, was convicted by the jury, which deliberated for roughly 90 minutes on Friday morning, December 8. Jurors had heard three days of evidence in the trial, which began on Tuesday morning, December 5.
The state’s case against Cardwell was argued by Prosecutor Dan James. Cardwell was represented by defense attorney Craig Manford in the case.
James credited the “excellent investigation” work of Deputy Bradley Knotts, Chief Deputy Johnnie Walter, Deputy Chris Roper, Capt. Tim Stapleton and Lt. Seth Place of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department for the outcome of the case.
Cardwell stabbed Morgan County resident Scott Mullen to death on September 5, 2022 at a local residence after a dispute in which Cardwell was in conflict with a young woman at that location.
Police responded to the stabbing and found Mullen covered in blood and lying by the side of the road in the 9000 block of Winchester Grade Road in southern Morgan County.
Cardwell is incarcerated at the Eastern Regional Jail, where he awaits sentencing on February 22, 2024.