Mistrial declared before start of murder trial

A mistrial was declared during Monday’s jury selection for the trial of a 62-year-old man accused of killing another man following a 2023 argument.

Johnny Clifton Taylor, of Lawton, was scheduled to begin trial for felony charges of first-degree murder — deliberate intent, and possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, records indicate. The murder charge is punishable by life in prison or life without parole.

During voir dire, Comanche County Presiding District Judge Emmit Tayloe read the firearms charge to the jury and the defense requested a mistrial, which was granted. First Assistant District Attorney Jill Oliver said the incident happened before she was able to conduct voir dire where jurors are questioned to decide whether they can be fair and impartial.

With a charge pertaining to a prior felony conviction, it is read after an initial decision in a case so as to not prejudice the jury.

Taylor’s case is now remanded to the October/November jury trial docket. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9.

Taylor admitted to police to shooting Joe E. Sawyer Jr. in the left chest, killing him the afternoon of Jan. 25, 2023, in the living room at 1102 NW Birch. Taylor said he’d become tired of Sawyer and a woman arguing and being loud in the living room, the probable cause affidavit states. He said Sawyer became aggressive when confronted and struck him several times atop the head with brass knuckles.

Taylor told police he retrieved his Luger semi-automatic pistol from its lock box in his room before returning to the living room where he fired “several shots in the floor of the living room,” the affidavit states. When Sawyer came toward him, Taylor said he shot him in the chest.

Records indicate Taylor has a June 1994 conviction in the 173rd District Court of Texas for aggravated assault causing great bodily injury.

Taylor remains jailed on $500,000 bond.