Berkley’s Final Interview: ‘I’m Not Going To Apologize For Killing Her Because I Didn’t Kill Her’

In his final interview, William Josef Berkley continued to maintain his innocence in the 2000 rape and murder of Sophia Martinez.

Berkley was convicted of Martinez’s murder in 2002. It has left him with the label “murderer” – a label he vehemently rejects.

“”If you want to believe that that’s fine,” Berkley said Wednesday afternoon. “Sooner or later the truth will come out. That’s all that matters.”

Berkley spoke with ABC-7 from behind glass in the Pulonsky Unit, the home of Texas death row inmates. Berkley spoke in his final interview of the crime he was convicted of and how he’ll pay. Barring a last-minute stay of execution, Berkley will be executed at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 22, El Paso time.

“I’m not going to apologize for killing her because I didn’t kill her,” Berkley said. “I’m sorry she is dead, but I’m not going to apologize for killing her when I didn’t kill her.”

Berkley says sometimes he does feel he’s come to terms with his sentence and at other times, he is scared to die.

“In a way yes, and in a way no,” he said. “At other times I try and block it out and not deal with it.”

Berkley describes death row as heaven and hell. It is a place where he has learned a lot and lost more.

Just before the interview ended, he offered these words for Martinez’s family

“As far as Sophia’s family goes, I’m praying for them,” Berkley said. “I hope they get the closure they need but Im not going to apologize for murdering her when I didn’t kill her.”

Berkley’s mom will spend Thursday morning with him before he is taken to Huntsville at around noon to prepare him for the execution. His last meal will be two jalapeno hamburgers, french fries, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, brownies and three root beer floats.

The execution is expected to be witnessed by Berkley’s family, Martinez’s family and El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza. Esparza prosecuted the Martinz murder case.

The full, 47-minute interview with Berkley will be posted on kvia.com Thursday morning.