Disir
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- Sep 30, 2011
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NORMAN — A murder defendant told a judge Thursday he still wants to plead guilty and be given a death sentence for beheading a co-worker at a Moore food distribution plant.
"As a Muslim, we are not afraid to die," Alton Alexander Nolen said.
Nolen told the judge he wanted to waive any further hearings and go ahead and plead guilty Thursday. He said he already had thought about the consequences of agreeing to the death penalty.
He said he would not accept life in prison or life in prison without the possibility of parole as punishments.
His intentions have put him at odds with his court-appointed defense attorneys, who contend he is not mentally competent to make that decision.
Cleveland County District Judge Lori Walkley told him she would not accept his guilty plea yet, saying she wanted to give him more time to think about it.
Nolen is scheduled to be in court again May 20 and could plead guilty then. If he does plead guilty, another date will be scheduled for his sentencing.
Delay is normal
In planning multiple hearings, the judge is following legal guidelines for cases where a murderer essentially volunteers for the death penalty. The judge noted she had a duty to protect the integrity of the system and was going to move slow rather than fast.
Defendant in Moore beheading repeats request for death penalty; judge holds off
And then, there is the issue of the last botched execution.
"As a Muslim, we are not afraid to die," Alton Alexander Nolen said.
Nolen told the judge he wanted to waive any further hearings and go ahead and plead guilty Thursday. He said he already had thought about the consequences of agreeing to the death penalty.
He said he would not accept life in prison or life in prison without the possibility of parole as punishments.
His intentions have put him at odds with his court-appointed defense attorneys, who contend he is not mentally competent to make that decision.
Cleveland County District Judge Lori Walkley told him she would not accept his guilty plea yet, saying she wanted to give him more time to think about it.
Nolen is scheduled to be in court again May 20 and could plead guilty then. If he does plead guilty, another date will be scheduled for his sentencing.
Delay is normal
In planning multiple hearings, the judge is following legal guidelines for cases where a murderer essentially volunteers for the death penalty. The judge noted she had a duty to protect the integrity of the system and was going to move slow rather than fast.
Defendant in Moore beheading repeats request for death penalty; judge holds off
And then, there is the issue of the last botched execution.
