(WXYZ) — The man who pleaded no contest to the murder of WWJ anchor Jim Matthews was sentenced in court on Thursday.
Arthur Williamson, 55, pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to murder and three counts of unlawful imprisonment last month.
A judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Williamson was charged for attacking Matthews, his girlfriend and their two children in September 2022. Williamson tied Matthews' girlfriend and the two kids at their home, and when he came home, Williamson brutally murdered him.
Brother of Matthews, Joe Nicolai told 7 Action News, "It comes up in my mind every day. The medical examiner had indicated that my brother was struck in excess of 29 times, they counted 29 hammer strikes on the back of his head."
From court hearing testimony Nicolai said he knows, "Hunter the 10-year-old, he’s crying, he’s throwing up in his mouth but he’s duck taped. It just gets worse and how does somebody come to do that, with the record of this guy being in and out of jail."
7 investigators found that Williamson had a criminal record dating back nearly 30 years before the murder.
Nicolai said Williamson had been friends with Nicole, Jim's girlfriend for at least 2 years going fishing with the kids and attending carnivals.
"Williamson was a trusted friend to Nicole and he had called her that night to come over for drugs," said Nicolai. "It was his birthday I understand, but she was the one that had let him into the house."
When asked how the kids are doing Nicolai said, "The kids are amazingly, they’re doing well. A lot better than I would expect for what they’ve gone through."
Assistant Prosecutor Steve Fox agreed to not add any additional charges from this incident as part of Williamson’s no contest plea.
Macomb County prosecutor Peter Lucido said, "I’ve been practicing over 35 years. I have not yet seen too many that walk in taking a life sentence and just pleading."
Lucido said Williamson will most likely spend life in prison and will be sentenced on May 31.
"Be more aware of people you are hanging around with," said Nicolai. "This is what happens when you hang around with people who have drugs."
