Strohmeyer confessions scrutinized

Bill Gang

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

As defense attorneys dissected the testimony of nearly every lawman who had a role in questioning Jeremy Strohmeyer about his involvement in the death of a 7-year-old girl at a Primm casino, the events are becoming clear.

What isn't clear is whether the chinks in the prosecution's case will be enough to force District Judge Don Chairez to throw out the 19-year-old defendant's three confessions to police in the May 25, 1997, slaying of Sherrice Iverson.

And the picture is expected to become muddled again next week when the hearing concludes with the defense witnesses -- including Strohmeyer, according to California defense attorney Leslie Abramson.

Defense attorneys have contended that police who arrested Strohmeyer in Long Beach, Calif., three days later coerced the confessions and denied him his right to a lawyer that his family had hired for him.

Abramson and Las Vegas attorney Richard Wright have claimed that Strohmeyer's first confession was elicited while he was still under the influence of a handful of dexadrine pills he swallowed in an apparent suicide attempt as police closed in.

But witness after witness testified during the first four days of the court hearing that Strohmeyer's stomach was pumped before the pills did their work and the defendant was calm and clear headed when he spoke of killing the girl.

The Long Beach police officers also testified that Strohmeyer was told of his rights to remain silent and have an attorney present during questioning, but chose to relay the events.

What also was clear, however, was that detectives never told Strohmeyer that the family hired lawyer was waiting to see him and that police were instructed by the attorney not to question the defendant outside his presence.

Det. Lance Wallace told the judge how he transported Strohmeyer from the Long Beach Community Medical Center to a jail while another detective talked with the family lawyer in the waiting room at the hospital.

Wallace said the timing was "apparently a coincidence."

Abramson charged that police purposely played hide the defendant because they knew that "when the lawyer shows up, the defendant shuts up."

At the jail, still outside the presence of attorney Douglas Otto, Strohmeyer gave the first of two tape-recorded confessions, although mechanical problems resulted in the first portion of the confession being inaudible.

FBI experts managed to enhance the tape and recover some of the interview, including the portion where his Miranda rights were read to him.

District Attorney Stewart Bell and Deputy District Attorney Peggy Leen have argued that legally it doesn't matter if a family member hires a lawyer for another family member.

They have pointed to a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court stating that whether a defendant remains silent or talks to a lawyer is a choice only for the defendant to exercise -- not the family nor their attorney.

Defense attorneys argued Wednesday that the facts in the U.S. Supreme Court case differ from the Strohmeyer case because that lawyer never demanded to see his client and Strohmeyer's lawyer did.

Wright noted that appeal courts in a dozen states, interpreting their own laws, have ruled contrary to the high court opinion.

Strohmeyer's trial is scheduled for April 20 and Abramson has suggested it could last several months, although Chairez has indicated it should take no more than a few weeks.