Murphy pleads for freedom

Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 | 11:23 a.m.

Sandy Murphy pleaded in District Court today for her release from the Clark County Detention Center.

Murphy, charged in the Sept. 17, 1998, slaying of gaming figure Ted Binion, told District Judge Joseph Bonaventure that her arrest Wednesday for violating the terms of her house arrest was the result of a personality conflict with Metro Corrections Officer Donna Bryant, who is supervising her.

With her voice shaking and on the verge of tears, Murphy said in court this morning, "I would never do anything to jeopardize or violate the rules in any way. If I was rude to her in any way, I apologize. I just didn't want a confrontation."

This was the first time Murphy has spoken out in court since being arrested June 24 in Binion's death.

Bonaventure was to make a ruling on whether to free Murphy this morning.

On Thursday, Murphy's new lawyer, John Momot, described her arrest as a misunderstanding.

"In my opinion, it was a misunderstanding," Momot said. "It's obvious to me that she was acting in good faith."

But Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger vowed Thursday to fight any bid by the 27-year-old accused killer to regain her freedom.

"Our position has been consistent from day one that she's not a candidate to have bail," Roger said. "I think her conduct speaks for itself."

Murphy was booked into the Clark County Detention Center Thursday morning. She reportedly was absent from her Henderson apartment all day Wednesday without properly explaining her whereabouts.

Momot said Murphy was working out the details of hiring her new attorney and spent time with him, her old lawyer, Bill Terry, and Louis Palazzo, who represents her co-defendant, Rick Tabish.

Police believe Murphy and Tabish, who were reported to be lovers at the time of Binion's death, pumped the 55-year-old gambling figure with drugs, suffocated him and stole his valuables. Murphy and Binion had been living together.

In court today, Palazzo and Terry both confirmed that they had spent most of Wednesday with Murphy.

They both described Murphy as being agitated and upset that she got embroiled in an argument with the corrections officer.

Momot today told Bonaventure he would be taking over Murphy's defense from Terry, who formally withdrew from the case.

Momot's decision to represent Murphy has surprised many courthouse observers who know he was a good friend of Binion's. Momot also represented Chicago underworld figure Herbie Blitzstein for years until his gangland murder in January 1997. Binion's ties to Blitzstein cost him his gaming license as an executive at the Horseshoe Club several months before his slaying.

"People just need representation," Momot said of his hookup with Murphy. "And that's my job as a lawyer, and I want to conduct myself as one and give somebody the best representation I can."

Momot said Terry no longer was defending Murphy because of a "disagreement" with her.

Terry today, however, said he had absolutely no conflict with Murphy and was helping her achieve a "smooth transition" to her new lawyer.

In a letter to Bonaventure Thursday, Bryant explained how Murphy ran afoul of her house arrest conditions.

Bryant told Bonaventure that Murphy hung up on her Wednesday night when the officer telephoned to question Murphy about her whereabouts.

"I informed Murphy that she is not allowed away from her residence without giving adequate information and advanced notice for approval from me so that her whereabouts can be verified," Bryant wrote.

"Murphy became agitated and told me she would not have any further conversation with me without her attorney present and hung up the telephone. After she hung up the phone, I made three attempts to call her residence, and there was no answer."

Corrections officers returned to Murphy's Henderson apartment Thursday morning and arrested her.

Bryant said Murphy had left her apartment at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday and didn't return until 5:30 p.m.

Before she left, Murphy telephoned the Clark County Detention Center's House Arrest Office and told a corrections officer she had an appointment with her attorney.

Nearly 12 hours later, when Bryant attempted to get an explanation, Murphy refused to cooperate, Bryant wrote.

"In order for an individual to remain on house arrest program, regular communication between the house arrest officers and the defendant is a mandatory requirement," Bryant said. "As officers, we are required to know the whereabouts of our clients at all times."

Bryant said Murphy has been "counseled in the past" for not providing proper documentation for her activities outside her apartment.

"I have had several conversations with Murphy explaining in detail what is required of her," she told Bonaventure.

Last week Roger asked Bonaventure to revoke Murphy's $300,000 bail, alleging she had participated in a house arrest scam in a California case and had displayed a "cavalier attitude toward authority" this summer while behind bars here.

Bonaventure, however, allowed Murphy to stay under house arrest.

Tabish, a 34-year-old Montana contractor, has been in jail on no bond since he and Murphy were arrested June 24 on murder charges.