Trial to proceed without suspect

Bill Gang

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999 | 11:13 a.m.

The trial of Terrell Cochise Young in the Aug. 14, 1998, execution-style slaying of four young men will go on without him.

After two outbursts by Young on Wednesday during jury selection for his murder trial, District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski ruled that the 20-year-old defendant was determined to disrupt the court and had sacrificed his right to be present.

Prosecutors said that Young, before the proceeding began earlier this week, had vowed to do whatever it took to postpone his trial.

The first outburst Wednesday morning appeared calculated and unprovoked.

As prospective jurors were questioned about their willingness to impose the death penalty if there is a conviction, Young suddenly stood up, scattered documents from atop the defense table and overturned the prosecution's table. Four bailiffs and corrections officers pounced on the 20-year-old defendant as shocked spectators and prospective jurors looked on. He offered no resistance then or as he was being led away in handcuffs.

Before the afternoon session began, Pavlikowski cautioned Young that if there were another outburst, he would be taken back to the Clark County Detention Center and the trial would proceed without him.

But Young wasn't listening. He just repeatedly complained that he couldn't stand trial on the multiple murder and robbery charges with attorneys who he said were biased against him.

After the morning outburst, Young was brought back to court with a stun belt -- in essence a remote-controlled stun gun -- concealed under his white dress shirt to provide an added measure of security. A jail corrections officer sat nearby with his finger on the activating button.

As would-be jurors were questioned, Young sat quietly for several minutes, but he suddenly began spitting on both of his lawyers.

The corrections officer immediately activated the stun belt.

Young tensed in his chair and his head rolled back, but he remained seated. The panel from which the jury will be selected that could decide whether he lives or dies watched as the defendant was led away.

Young is the second of three defendants charged in the quadruple murder to stand trial. The first, 19-year-old Sikia Smith, was convicted of first-degree murder earlier this summer and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The alleged triggerman, 19-year-old Donte Johnson, is set to face a jury in January.

Although Young is not alleged to be the triggerman prosecutors still are seeking the death penalty.

Those killed in the Aug. 14, 1998, incident in a house on Terra Linda Avenue, near Nellis Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, were Jeffrey Biddle, 19, Tracey Gorringe, 20, Matthew Mowen, 19, and Peter Talamantez, 17.

They were found gagged, bound with duct tape and each shot dead with one bullet to the head.

Testimony at Smith's trial indicated the bandits believed a large quantity of drugs and $6,000 in cash was supposed to be in the house.

Confessions given to police by Smith and Young indicated, however, that only $240, a VCR, a video game unit and a few pills were found.