Court hearing planned in Oklahoma beheading case

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – A court hearing is planned in the case of an Oklahoma man accused of first-degree murder in the beheading death of a co-worker.

Alton Nolen is charged in the Sept. 25, 2014, slaying of 54-year-old Colleen Hufford at a food processing plant in Moore. A scheduling conference is planned for Tuesday afternoon in Nolen’s case, though a judge has said Nolen does not need to attend.

Nolen’s defense attorneys have requested a mental competency evaluation for their client.

Nolen is accused of beheading Hufford and stabbing another woman, Traci Johnson, at Vaughan Foods after he was suspended from his job at the plant.