Man charged with murder scheduled to appear in court

W. DARNELL BENSON JR. A Gaffney man charged with murder is scheduled to appear this week in General Sessions Court at the Cherokee County Courthouse.

Winfred Darnell Benson Jr., 22, formerly of Goldmine Springs Apartments, Gaffney, was transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center from state prison where he is serving a 20-year sentence for assault and battery with intent to kill.

He is charged with the murder of 21-year-old Keishana Knuckles on Sept. 29, 2005, inside her White Oaks Apartment home.

Knuckles was found in the bathroom of her home on the evening of Sept. 30, 2005. She had been strangled and died of asphyxia and also suffered six or seven nonfatal stab wounds.

Knuckles worked at No Fear Sportswear at Prime Outlets at Gaffney and attended classes at Spartanburg Technical College.

Benson was the boyfriend of Knuckles’ best friend and had traveled on family vacations with the Knuckles family. Keishana had even helped named the couple’s child, according to her family.

He was apprehended four months after the murder by a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division fugitive task force.

Benson is represented by Greenville attorney Bill Godfrey. He faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.