Accused Killer 'Kai the Hitchhiker' Enters Not Guilty Plea

Public defender Peter Liguori today entered a plea of not guilty for Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (aka 'Kai the Hitchhiker'), the Internet celebrity who police say beat to death 73-year-old Clark attorney Joseph Galfy in May. 

The plea was entered when McGillvary, 25, made a brief appearance in Union County Superior Court this morning before Judge Joseph P. Donohue. 

McGillvary was stoic and silent as he stood in the court room in handcuffs and a tan prison uniform. He initially pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance in June. 

In July, McGillvary was rushed to the hospital with self-inflicted wounds. Officials would not say then whether they believe he was attempting to commit suicide.

"He’s doing better," Liguori told Patch after entering the plea. "Better than he was a couple of months ago, when he wasn’t doing so well." 

Liguori wouldn't comment further about the case. 

A status conference was set for Jan. 27. McGillvary's bail remains at $3 million.

Galfy was found in his Clark home on Monday, May 13 after hosting McGillvary overnight on Saturday and Sunday. Police say that McGillvary murdered Galfy, who was found in his underwear and socks, severely beaten. McGillvary was arrested in Philadelphia on May 16.

For his part, in a May 14 post on his Facebook page, McGillvary alleges that he was drugged and raped, and asks readers, "what would you do?"

McGillvary became an Internet sensation in February: After saving a Fresno woman by smashing her attacker in the head with his hatchet, McGillvary’s offbeat personality in an interview made for a YouTube video that garnered nearly 4 million views (see it here - warning, contains profanity). He also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

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