Ruling delayed on man’s plea; admits to beheading co-worker

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – A judge has delayed a ruling on whether to accept the guilty plea of a Moore man who has admitted beheading a co-worker and says he wants the death penalty.

Cleveland County District Judge Lori Walkley said Friday that she'll rule Wednesday on whether she'll accept the plea from Alton Nolen.

The 31-year-old pleaded guilty in May to first-degree murder for beheading 54-year-old Colleen Hufford inside Vaughan Foods on Sept. 25, 2014, shortly after he was suspended for making racial remarks. He has said he wants to die by lethal injection.

Walkley is deciding whether Nolen is mentally competent to plead guilty and waive his right to a jury trial.

A defense expert said Nolen is schizophrenic while a prosecution expert said he's just uncooperative.