Trial of Kathy Taft's accused killer continued until Tuesday

Raleigh, N.C. — Testimony in the trial of Jason Williford, a Raleigh man accused of killing North Carolina state school board member Kathy Taft, was continued until Tuesday because of a child care issue involving one of the jurors.

Williford, 32, is accused of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and first-degree burglary in Taft's March 9, 2010, death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Monday would have marked the fourth day of testimony in the case, but prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge decided to continue the case instead of dismissing the juror.

Both sides were concerned about how doing so might affect any post-conviction appeals. The state was also concerned about releasing a juror so early in the case, which is expected to last several weeks.

They started with 12 jurors and three alternates but had to release one juror on Wednesday because she was the sole caretaker for her elderly mother. If they were to dismiss another juror, it would leave them with only one alternate juror.

Prosecutors say Williford deliberately raped and beat Taft, 62, as she was recovering from surgery, but defense attorneys say he was incapable of forming the necessary mental intent that is needed for a first-degree murder conviction, because he suffers from a number of disorders and illnesses.

Testimony is expected to continue at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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Did the killer know right from wrong? He knew what he did was wrong and illegal. He refused to give his DNA on a neighborhood canvas. He knew he would be a match to the crime scene. The guy may have serious problems, including drug, alcohol, mental illness and other things, but did he know right from wrong? He sure did. Diminished mental capacity doesnt fly here.

johnnyislate
May 21, 2012 6:41 p.m.

It's true that things can come up, JAT, but this juror was the sole caretaker of her elderly mother. She should have been excused in the first place, is all I'm saying. But I agree with you, the judge is making the best decision possible at this point.

storchheim
May 21, 2012 2:03 p.m.

@ncgayatheist: Williford may not have "made" himself, but he proved in unarguable terms that he is too dangerous to be allowed freedom.

How many innocent women have to be raped and killed for you to understand that? Maybe I'm odd, but I believe that one was one too many.

winemaker81
May 21, 2012 1:30 p.m.

ncgayatheist. I don't care about his mental "state". I just care that he did it and deserves to be punished. Also, if he had such diminished capacity to negate mens rea, then why did he refuse the DNA test? Let's pronounce this guy innocent and move on.Never mind an innocent woman is dead and her family and friends have to deal with that. biguncfan

No one said this man was innocent. No one said there is not concern and sympathy for the victims family. There is more than black & white thinking you know. As far as why Williford refused DNA test, who knows, perhaps a mosquito told him not to do it. One rational moment in the life of a mental patient does not make them sane, nor does one isolated incident of insanity for a normally mentally healthy person make them mad. His long history of mental illness shows this is not a one time fake plea, nor is his defense denying his actions. The man does deserve adequate mental health help, no matter what his crime.

ncgayatheist
May 21, 2012 1:27 p.m.

no he does NOT DESERVE A COMPETENT TRIAL.. he murdered a innocent person, so therefore he deserves what he gets.. yeah put him in an asylum so what he can be out in a few years i don't think so. gayatheist; you would feel different if it was your family or one of your loved ones..

squirt80
May 21, 2012 1:16 p.m.