Trial of Cape Girardeau man accused in infant's death postponed

The trial of a Cape Girardeau man set to begin in a week was postponed Friday, after the man asked the presiding judge for time to hire a new lawyer.

Allen R. Walker Jr., charged in August with child endangerment and second-degree murder, is accused of causing fatal injuries to his 7-week-old son, who died Aug. 26 at a St. Louis hospital.

At the time charges were filed, Walker told police that a Pack-and-Play fell on the child, but medical professionals identified injuries, including skull fractures and bruising, that had already begun to heal at the time of the infant's death.

In a letter to Circuit Court Judge Benjamin F. Lewis, Nicole Walker, Allen Walker's sister, wrote on behalf of the defendant that his counsel, Michelle McMahon of St. Louis, wasn't properly doing her job.

She also alleges that McMahon was difficult to communicate with and provided no information to the family on the progress of the case.

Nicole Walker also wrote about the legal fees discussed between the family and McMahon, claiming they'd paid more than $2,000, but their attorney said they hadn't made payments.

McMahon filed a response with the court agreeing with Walker's request for new counsel, saying she was misrepresented in the letter and wouldn't be able to "passionately advocate" on her client's behalf at trial.

In her response McMahon denied allegations that she didn't perform her duties and said that she was ready to being picking a jury March 29.

Additionally, she denied being unreachable and that Walker, his sister and mother had her office and cell phone number.

Also, McMahon wrote that she never said to the family she didn't receive money to represent Walker.

Still, in her response to the court she said she hasn't received the agreed upon payment.

"Counsel's quoted fees were $20,000 for a murder trial and [she] cut her fees when the family hardships were explained," McMahon wrote. "Counsel has set her fees far below the customary charges ... in an attempt to assist the family."

Lewis set a new court date for April 11, when he expects Walker to appear with his new attorney. No new trial date has been set.

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