Oklahoma beheading: Prosecutors to seek death penalty for attack suspect
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-beheading-nolen-asks-judge-for-muslim-attorney/article/5347361
NORMAN — Prosecutors Wednesday decided to seek the death penalty in the grisly beheading case that has shocked the country.
Alton
Alexander Nolen, 30, of Moore, was charged Tuesday with first-degree
murder in the beheading. He is accused of severing a co-worker’s head
with a large kitchen knife Sept. 25 after he was suspended from a food
distribution plant in Moore for racial remarks.
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said he made the decision on punishment after meeting with the murder victim’s family Wednesday morning.
“I let them know it was my ultimate decision, but I wanted to know their feelings,” he told The Oklahoman.
He said the family felt a death sentence is appropriate. He said paperwork starting the process could be filed this week.
The district attorney said he will seek a death sentence on four legal grounds — known as aggravating circumstances.
At trial, jurors will have to agree at least one of those reasons exists or they cannot consider execution as a punishment.
Mashburn said he will allege the victim’s death was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. He said he also will allege Nolen is a continuing threat to society, Nolen put more than one person at great risk of death and Nolen has been previously convicted of a felony involving violence against a person.
Suspect moved from hospital to jail
Nolen, a recent Muslim convert, was moved Wednesday morning from a hospital to the Cleveland County jail. At a video arraignment Wednesday afternoon, he asked for a Muslim defense attorney, if possible.
Bail was denied.
Nolen wore an orange jail-issued jumpsuit during the arraignment and appeared healthy and calm. Special Judge Michael Tupper read to him the charge — one count of first-degree murder, one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.
Nolen is accused in the first-degree murder count of killing Colleen Hufford, 54, of Moore, during the attack at Vaughan Foods.
He is accused in first assault count of injuring Traci Johnson, 43, of Oklahoma City. He is accused in the second assault count of threatening Mark Vaughan, the company’s chief operating officer.
Vaughan, a reserve Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy, shot Nolen to stop the attacks, authorities said.
Click to read more,,,
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said he made the decision on punishment after meeting with the murder victim’s family Wednesday morning.
“I let them know it was my ultimate decision, but I wanted to know their feelings,” he told The Oklahoman.
He said the family felt a death sentence is appropriate. He said paperwork starting the process could be filed this week.
The district attorney said he will seek a death sentence on four legal grounds — known as aggravating circumstances.
At trial, jurors will have to agree at least one of those reasons exists or they cannot consider execution as a punishment.
Mashburn said he will allege the victim’s death was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. He said he also will allege Nolen is a continuing threat to society, Nolen put more than one person at great risk of death and Nolen has been previously convicted of a felony involving violence against a person.
Suspect moved from hospital to jail
Nolen, a recent Muslim convert, was moved Wednesday morning from a hospital to the Cleveland County jail. At a video arraignment Wednesday afternoon, he asked for a Muslim defense attorney, if possible.
Bail was denied.
Nolen wore an orange jail-issued jumpsuit during the arraignment and appeared healthy and calm. Special Judge Michael Tupper read to him the charge — one count of first-degree murder, one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.
Nolen is accused in the first-degree murder count of killing Colleen Hufford, 54, of Moore, during the attack at Vaughan Foods.
He is accused in first assault count of injuring Traci Johnson, 43, of Oklahoma City. He is accused in the second assault count of threatening Mark Vaughan, the company’s chief operating officer.
Vaughan, a reserve Oklahoma County sheriff’s deputy, shot Nolen to stop the attacks, authorities said.
Click to read more,,,
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