Nevada Supreme Court briefs

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

Conviction of Calambro's sister stands

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Maria Calambro, sister of death-row inmate Alvaro Calambro.

The woman was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her 4-year-old son Binh, whose right wrist was cut with a steak knife. She was the common-law wife of Duc Huynh, who joined Alvaro Calambro in a crime spree that included a double murder at a Reno U-Haul business. After the men were captured, Huynh convinced Maria Calambro to join in a suicide pact that included taking the life of their young son. She slit her own wrists but survived.

Huynh and Alvaro Calambro were sentenced to death for the Reno murders. Huynh committed suicide in prison and Alvaro waived his right to appeal his execution. However, his execution, scheduled for earlier this month, was postponed to determine his mental competency.

Nevius ruling stands

The high court, with Chief Justice Charles Springer dissenting, has refused to reconsider its previous decision in denying the appeal of Thomas Nevius, sentenced to die for the fatal shooting of David Kinnamon.

The victim was trying to stop burglars from raping his wife in their Las Vegas home in July 1980.

Springer said racist remarks by the prosecutor requires the reversal of the death penalty. Justice Bob Rose wrote that the prosecutor maintained he never made a racist statement.

Billboard OK'd

The high court has dismissed an appeal by the Mirage hotel-casino, which had sued to stop a billboard being placed over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near the resort's property.

The court, in a unanimous decision, said the Clark County Building Department and the county were within their authority in allowing Ad America to erect the sign. The ruling said that if it followed the interpretation of the law as urged by the Mirage, "off-premises advertising would be virtually eliminated in Clark County."

Lee appeal rejected

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of Donald R. Lee, sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for the fatal shooting of an off-duty Nellis Air Force Base airman in Las Vegas.

Lee, who was 15 at the time of the drive-by shooting, claimed his trial lawyer, David Phillips, was ineffective. The court said that "although Phillips' investigation may have been deficient in some respects, Lee has not demonstrated that he has been prejudiced thereby."