Birchett King was sentenced to prison for the murder of his uncle

A Folcroft man who shot his uncle during an argument over car repairs has been sentenced to five and a half to eleven years in prison.

Birchett King, 26, told Delaware District Court Judge Kevin Kelly that he shot his uncle, James Ford, in self-defense during their confrontation in August 2022 and feared for his life.

But Kelly emphasized at the verdict on Thursday that the jury had rejected King’s version of events and found that King was not justified in shooting the 39-year-old Ford. After a trial in May, the jury found him guilty of manslaughter.

“No matter what this court does, unfortunately it will not change where the people in this courtroom are,” Kelly said. “Mr. King will have to live the rest of his life knowing that he killed his uncle.”

King told Kelly his uncle was his best friend and no one in the extended family really understood their bond. He said his uncle had mental health issues and turned to King when things were “dark” for him.

“My family knows I loved my uncle no matter what happened, but I was scared,” King said. “You will never know what really happened that day. I hope one day you will find the strength in your heart to forgive me.”

Some of King’s relatives, including his grandmother, father and fiancée, told Kelly that King was a hard-working family man who put others first and was always willing to help anyone. They asked the judge for leniency, saying King was not a violent person.

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On the day of Ford’s death, investigators were called to ATP, a Clifton Heights auto repair shop where King worked, on reports of a shooting. Nearby, they found Ford shot multiple times and covered in blood, according to the probable cause affidavit for King’s arrest. Ford was taken to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In court, King testified that he offered to change the oil in his uncle’s BMW as a favor. After the repair, Ford became angry and accused King of damaging his vehicle during the service. The argument escalated and King unleashed his dogs to persuade his uncle to end the fight.

As the argument continued, King believed his uncle reached for a gun and fired it at the older man.

Surveillance footage from the shop showed King chasing Ford down the road toward the Lindbergh Bridge, the affidavit states. King was seen with a firearm and a short time later ran back to a car parked in front of the auto shop.

No firearm was found near Ford’s body.

Ford’s sister Jennifer Barkley said his death had devastated her family and robbed them of their “anchor, protector and often provider.”

“I often struggle with the thought of what he was thinking in his final moments, knowing that his nephew, for whom he would give his life, had taken his life,” she said.

“It sickens me that the blood on your hands from murdering my brother is the same blood that flows through your veins.”