Judge rejects plea agreement

With the jury selection under way in Brewton Monday for the capital murder trial of Jonathan Michael Taylor, Circuit Judge Jack Weaver granted a continuance after defense counsel learned that Taylor’s co-defendant, Nadiya Diane Walker, had reached a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office.

However, when Walker appeared before Judge Weaver Tuesday morning to enter her guilty plea, Judge Weaver would not accept the agreement.

Taylor and Walker are both facing capital murder charges in the March 2015 killing of Cory Brian Moncrief. If convicted the two face possible sentences of life without the possibility of parole or death.

Walker had reached an agreement with the district attorney’s office to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and be sentenced to 30 years in prison and agree to testify in Taylor’s trial.

“The court is not going to accept this agreement here today in open court,” Judge Weaver said.

Weaver did tell defense and prosecuting attorneys they could renegotiate the plea agreement and bring it back for consideration.

Judge Weaver serves as circuit judge of the 35th Judicial Circuit which includes Conecuh and Monroe counties. Due to conflicts of interest with circuit judges in Escambia County, he has been appointed to preside over the trials involving Taylor and Walker.

Brewton Attorney Earnie White, who is representing Taylor, said after learning Walker had agreed to a plea bargain he asked for the continuance.

White said with Walker pleading guilty she became a witness against his client.

“We had not prepared to cross examine her as a witness,” White said. “We needed some more time.”

White also said he felt that if he did not ask for a continuance the issue of Taylor having ineffective counsel would have been raised on appeal.

Judge Weaver gave no explanation as to why he refused to accept the plea agreement with Walker. He continued Taylor’s capital murder trial until July and said Walker’s trial would be continued until the fall.

Moncrief, 32, was found shot to death inside his Forrest Avenue residence in East Brewton.

Taylor, 33, of Brewton was arrested and charged with the murder of Moncrief and Taylor admitted to law enforcement officers that he shot Moncrief in the back of the head while Moncrief was sleeping on his couch.

He was originally given a $1 million bond. However, an Escambia County grand jury indicted him on the capital murder charge and he remains jailed without bond.

Walker was later indicted by an Escambia County grand jury also charging her with capital murder in the death of Moncrief. Officials described Walker as the ex-girlfriend of Moncrief and current girlfriend of Taylor at the time of the murder and said that Walker and Moncrief had children together.