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Wife in Fatal Love Triangle Admits Guilt, Gets Life Sentence
By Amanda Lamb - Wral.com
September 26, 2007
Raleigh, N.C. — A Clayton woman at the center of a fatal love
triangle pleaded guilty Wednesday for her role in the Dec. 18,
2005, slaying of her naval reservist husband.
Superior Court Judge Osmond Smith accepted Monique Berkley's
guilty plea of first-degree murder, sentencing her to life in
prison without the possibility of parole. The state had announced
it was going to seek the death penalty if Berkley had gone to
trial.
"Along the way, we looked at the relative culpabilities of each
person, the evidence that was admissible against each one, and
after consulting with the victim's family, we thought this was an
appropriate result," District Attorney Colon Willoughby said.
After Berkley, 27, entered her plea, she broke down sobbing.
Paul Berkley, 46, also of Clayton, was shot in the head on a
pathway at Millbrook Exchange Park. Police arrested his wife, who
was also shot , and two men – Andrew Deshawn Canty and Latwon
Darrell Johnson. They charged all three with first-degree murder.
Authorities said Monique Berkley had been having an affair with
Canty and that he moved into her house while her husband was
deployed overseas. Paul Berkley suspected the affair and planned
to divorce his wife, they said.
That is when, Raleigh police said, she put in motion a plot to
kill her husband.
In court Wednesday, Wake County Assistant District Attorney
Susan Spurlin said Monique and Paul Berkley went out on a date,
days after he returned from his tour of duty in the Middle East.
The couple went to see the movie "King Kong" before going to
Millbrook Exchange Park for "a romantic interlude."
Spurlin said that during the movie, Monique Berkley went to the
restroom and called Canty, telling him to meet them at the park.
Spurlin said Johnson drove Canty.
Canty later walked past the couple at the park and shot Paul
Berkley in the back of the head and Monique Berkley in the
shoulder, Spurlin said. Canty also took Berkley's wallet to make
it look like a robbery.
Spurlin said Berkley, Canty and Johnson planned to share a
payout from a $400,000 life insurance policy.
Authorities have never recovered the murder weapon and believe
it was thrown in a river. Investigators said a gun sold to Canty
was test-fired in a Johnston County yard before the killing, and
shell casings from that matched the casings found at the crime
scene.
Canty pleaded guilty Aug. 20 to first-degree murder. He was
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Johnson's trial date has not been set.
Slain Naval Reservist Was Also Stabbed, Autopsy Shows
Wral.com
March 1, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- — An autopsy reveals new details in the
late-night slaying of a Naval reservist who was killed at a
Raleigh park late last year, and whose wife was arrested in
connection with his death.
Investigators knew that a shot to the head killed Paul Berkley
in the early-morning hours of Dec. 18 while he and his wife were
parked at Millbrook Exchange Park.
The recently released autopsy report, however, indicates that
Berkley, 46, was also stabbed in the head. Medical examiners found
a 1-inch deep stab wound near his right ear and temporal scalp
that caused injuries to the brain and skull.
Investigators said his wife, Monique Berkley, 26, confessed to
the slaying and that she had help from her boyfriend, Andrew Canty,
and his friend, Latwon Johnson, both 18.
Police said Paul Berkley suspected that his wife was having an
affair, and that he told his daughter that he planned to divorce
his wife. That is when, Raleigh police said, Monique Berkley
allegedly put a plot to kill her husband in motion.
The plan, authorities said, called for Monique Berkley to be
beaten to cover up her involvement in the alleged crime. She,
however, was shot. Investigators have not said why she was shot
instead.
All three suspects were indicted soon after the shooting on
first-degree murder charges. If convicted, they could face the
death penalty.
Slain Naval Reservist's Wife Will Face Death Penalty
Wral.com
January 26, 2006
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wake County prosecutors will pursue the death
penalty against a woman whose naval reservist husband was shot to
death in a Raleigh park last month.
Police said Monique Berkley, 26, of Clayton, admitted to
plotting to kill her husband, Paul Berkley, 46, to get collect on
his life insurance.
In the early-morning hours of Dec. 18, Monique Berkley called
911 to report that two men shot her and her husband on a pathway
at Millbrook Exchange Park. Paul Berkley was shot in the head and
later died at WakeMed. Monique Berkley sustained a gunshot wound
to the shoulder.
Upon further investigation, police linked two men, Andrew
Deshawn Canty and Latwon Darrell Johnson, both 18, to the
shootings and charged them with first-degree murder. Berkley,
while recovering from her wounds in the hospital, was also
arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
If convicted, Canty and Johnson will also face the death
penalty.
Berkley's neighbors said she had been romantically involved
with Canty and that the two were living together at her home while
her husband was overseas.
Police said Paul Berkley suspected that his wife was having an
affair, and that he told his daughter that he planned to divorce
his wife. That is when, Raleigh police Sgt. J.C. Perry said,
Monique Berkley allegedly put the plot to kill her husband in
motion.
Investigators said Berkley promised her husband, who had just
returned from serving in the Middle East, a "romantic interlude"
at the park after dinner and a movie.
"The original plan called for Monique Berkley to be beaten,"
Perry told the news media on Dec. 22. "This would be done to cover
up her involvement in the crime."
Perry, however, did not comment on why she had been shot,
instead.
Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said in December
that he was not ruling out the possibility of more suspects or
more charges in the case.
Berkley, Canty and Johnson are in the Wake County Jail being
held without bond.
Monique Berkley-Andrew Canty murder case
By Traciy Curry-Reyes - Examiner.com
July 30, 2013
Paul Berkley was shot dead in Millbrook Park in
North Carolina in 2005. His wife, Monique Berkley, and her lover,
Andrew Canty, were charged and convicted of his murder. As of
2013, they are both currently incarcerated in a North Carolina
correctional facility, according to WRAL News.
2005 Paul Berkley murder timeline
Wednesday, December 14:
Paul Berkley, a Navy Reserve sailor, leaves his
post in the Middle East to visit his wife, Monique Berkley for
Christmas. Paul has no idea that his Navy wife has been having an
affair and living with her teenage lover, Andrew Canty, while he
is away.
In the days following, he spends time with his
son Zeke, 18, and his daughter Becky,16.
Sunday, December 18:
In the pre-dawn hours, Monique lures her
husband Paul for a night of wine, candy and sex in the park.
Monique's Black boyfriend, Andrew Canty, hides and waits for the
couple to appear.
The couple is ambushed by two African American
teens: Andrew Canty, 18, and Latwon Johnson, 18.
Monique Berkley receives a gunshot wound to the
shoulder. Her husband is shot in the head and stabbed in the ear.
Monique places a call to 911 using her cell
phone. Her husband, Paul, can be heard gasping for air in the
background.
December 19:
Raleigh police arrest Monique Berkley, Andrew
Deshawn Canty and Latwon Johnson. They are charged with
first-degree murder.
December 23:
Monique Berkley confesses to police that she
plotted to kill her husband for the insurance money.
She later changes her story.
2006:
The D.A. makes it clear that they are going for
the death penalty.
2007
August 20:
Andrew Canty's trial begins.
August 28:
Andrew Canty stops the trial and pleads guilty.
The plea bargain means he will not face the death penalty. He is
sentenced to life in prison.
September 26:
Monique Berkley pleads guilty to murder and is
sentenced to life in prison.
November 10:
Latwon Johnson pleads guilty.
2013
All three are still incarcerated.
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