Woman pleads guilty to fatal stabbing at group home

WAILUKU -- A woman acknowledged she had stabbed a man to death while he was asleep in a mental health group home in Wailuku, as she pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder.

Taliah Nelson, 37, is facing life in prison with the possibility of parole when she is sentenced June 27.

In exchange for her plea, the prosecution agreed to recommend a minimum term of 20 years for Nelson to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, which will decide how much time she must serve before being considered for parole.

Nelson was found guilty of murdering 57-year-old David Kecxon, who was living in a unit next to hers in the residence at 1598 Mill St. Mental Health Kokua was running the unsupervised group home for adults diagnosed with mental illness.

After being stabbed in the chest at about 11:20 p.m. Nov. 22, 2015, Kecxon identified Nelson as his stabber before he died on the operating table at Maui Memorial Medical Center, according to court documents.

Court proceedings against Nelson had been suspended while she was examined for mental fitness by three court-appointed psychiatrists or psychologists. In January, she was found mentally fit for trial after the defense and prosecution agreed.

During a hearing lasting more than an hour Friday morning, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza questioned Nelson about her decision to plead guilty in the case.

She said she was taking medication and had a clear mind.

"Why do you think we're here today?" Cardoza asked.

"I can say that I might have been aiding and abetting . . . and proceeded in murdering someone," Nelson replied.

Asked if she knew that person's name, she said, "David" and agreed with Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Martin when he gave Kecxon's last name.

When Cardoza asked if Nelson understood the charge against her, she at first replied, "Yes, I just don't understand why I wouldn't get manslaughter instead of a life sentence."

The judge read portions of the law to Nelson before saying a manslaughter charge could be determined at a trial.

"Would you like to have that decided at a trial or do you prefer to enter a plea of guilty to murder in the second degree?" Cardoza asked.

"I would prefer to enter a plea of guilty," she said.

When Cardoza began to ask Nelson if she understood her rights to have a trial, she said, "No trial, your honor."

The judge read a portion of the plea agreement that said, "The defendant, without justification, stabbed the victim while he was sleeping, causing the death."

"Is this what you did here?" Cardoza asked Nelson.

"Yes, your honor," she replied.

When the judge asked what plea she wanted to enter to the second-degree murder charge, Nelson said, "I plead guilty, your honor."

Although earlier reports listed Nelson's age as 32 at the time of the murder, Nelson said that was incorrect and gave her current age as 37.

While saying he had been concerned by some of Nelson's answers to questions at the beginning of the hearing, Cardoza said she had answered later questions clearly.

"You seem to be thinking very clearly today," the judge told Nelson. "You seem oriented properly. I am satisfied that you fully understand what you want to do, and it's very clear this is what you want to do."

Nelson is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.