Plea entered in Carteret killing

BEAUFORT - A Carteret County man will spend a minimum of 23 years in prison following his conviction Monday for a fatal stabbing that occurred earlier this year in the North River community.

Troy Donahue McLean, 41, of Beaufort pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Carteret County Superior Court. He was sentenced to a minimum of 280 months in prison to a possible maximum of 345 months.

McLean is convicted of the Feb. 23 stabbing death of Alexander Darrell Harkley, 44, at his home at 111 Felton Lane. Harkley, who authorities said was McLean's romantic partner, was stabbed eight times in the upper torso during an argument.

Investigators with the Carteret County Sheriff's Office indicated at the time that the argument appeared to be the result of jealousy after McLean found another man at the residence.

McLean left the residence and came back several hours later armed with a knife. He confronted Harkley and stabbed him in what investigators called a fit of rage, but his conviction on second-degree murder doesn't indicate that he planned the stabbing.

District attorney Scott Thomas said a conviction for first-degree murder requires premeditation. In this case, he said, the prosecution felt the evidence supported second-degree.

"We felt, based upon the facts and circumstances gathered in the investigation, that if we tried the case (in court) we could prove second-degree and that is what the defendant pled to," Thomas said.

Only Harkley and McLean were present at the time of the stabbing, leaving McLean as the only person who knows exactly what happened.

Attorney Bill Gerran, who represented McLean, said the stabbing was an act that occurred in the heat of passion and was not premeditated.

Gerran said McLean has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and was under the influence of both at the time. He said McLean only recalls parts of the stabbing and the events that led to death of his partner.

"He still cares about Mr. Harkley," Gerran said.

Pearlie Harkley, the mother of Alexander Harkley, was in the courtroom at the time of McLean's conviction but made no comments.

The fatal stabbing marked the second time violent crime brought tragedy to the family.

Alexander Harkley's death follows the fatal shooting of his twin brother, Columbus Harkley, in November 2002. Another brother, Kim Harkley, was convicted of the shooting.

Contact Carteret County reporter Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 252-808-2275. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.