Murphy, Tabish get new lawyers

Tuesday, May 25, 1999 | 12:05 p.m.

The leading suspects in Ted Binion's murder have a new defense team.

Attorney Bill Terry confirmed today that he agreed to represent Binion's 27-year-old girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, following a two-hour afternoon meeting with her on Monday.

And former prosecutor Steve Wolfson said he has been hired to represent Montana contractor Rick Tabish.

This comes as Homicide Lt. Wayne Petersen said today the decision on whether to seek criminal charges in Binion's Sept. 17 death now is in the hands of the district attorney's office.

"They have all of the documentation we've gathered so far," Petersen said. "There's an incredible amount of paperwork."

There has been much speculation in recent days that authorities are moving closer to making arrests in the eight-month investigation. The case is said to be built around a long list of circumstantial evidence.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, who declined comment today, is said to be seeking approval to proceed with charges. Roger has been working closely with homicide detectives since December.

Terry takes over Murphy's defense duties from David Chesnoff, who got off the case last week without explaining his reasons. Chesnoff is partners with mayoral candidate Oscar Goodman, who also once was associated with Terry.

"I look forward to representing (Murphy) with enthusiasm," Terry said. "I think it's a very defensible matter. And I think that once the true facts are known it will work to her advantage."

Wolfson replaces Louis Palazzo, who joined Chesnoff in withdrawing without explanation.

"I'm looking forward to working on this case," Wolfson said. "It's an exciting, challenging case."

Wolfson said Tabish, who's also facing criminal charges in the attempted theft of Binion's silver fortune in Pahrump, is anxious to exonerate himself.

Murphy had been living with the 55-year-old Binion prior to his death. She reported discovering his body next to an empty bottle of the prescription sedative, Xanax, at his home. Drug tests found lethal levels of both Xanax and heroin in his body, and Clark County Coroner Ron Flud later ruled his death a homicide.

The homicide investigation, meanwhile, is expected to attract more national publicity on Friday, when "Unsolved Mysteries" devotes a segment to the case at 9 p.m. on CBS.

"America's Most Wanted," another syndicated television show, aired a Binion piece May 15 on the Fox network.

Also on Friday, District Judge Michael Cherry has scheduled a hearing on whether to allow Murphy back into Binion's 2408 Palomino Lane home.

Murphy has been awarded the home, its contents and $300,000 in cash. But her inheritance has been threatened because she has refused to help Binion's $30 million estate find missing assets.

Both Murphy and Tabish also have refused to cooperate in the homicide investigation.