Bonaventure is concerned about potential distractions

Tuesday, April 18, 2000 | 11:22 a.m.

A veteran Golden Nugget bellman has been suspended without pay after being scolded by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure for talking to the jurors in the Ted Binion murder trial as they went to lunch Monday at the downtown resort.

Bonaventure interrupted the trial after lunch and hauled the bellman, Richard Sueno, to court after several jurors reported overhearing him blurt out, "they're not guilty," a reference to defendants Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish, who are standing trial on charges of killing Binion.

"You knew my jury was coming over there, and you made a comment," an irate Bonaventure screamed from the bench. "What comment did you make?"

After Sueno, a 20-year Golden Nugget veteran, acknowledged making the "not guilty comment," Bonaventure yelled, "You got a lot of nerve. Do you know I could put you in contempt. I could put you in jail for 30 days. And I'm almost at a mind to do that right now.

Then he added: "Don't ever do that again. Now get out of here."

Earlier, Bonaventure individually questioned the three jurors and one alternate who had heard Sueno's remark to see whether it would influence their deliberations. All four said it would not.

The judge, meanwhile, reportedly expressed his concerns in chambers to lawyers in the case about the sideshow developing outside the courtroom.

Much of the outside distractions evolve around William Cassidy, a California private investigator and aide to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman who is serving as a defense consultant.

Last week Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger ripped into Cassidy in court for publicly disseminating "fraudulent" results of a defense poll to influence the jury, which has not been sequestered by Bonaventure.

Then, private detective Tom Dillard, who is working for Binion's estate, filed a police report alleging Cassidy had threatened his life. The threat was conveyed to Dillard through Michael Wysocki, another defense investigator.

Dillard and his lawyer, Brent Bryson, plan to go to court to seek a protective order prohibiting Cassidy from having contact with the Binion investigator.

On Wednesday another potential distraction is expected to take place when experts from the Psychic Eye Bookshops conduct a seance to summon Binion's spirit "to find out the true nature" of his death.

The seance has been promoted by publicists affiliated with the defense team.

Jeff German is the Sun's senior investigative reporter. He can be reached at (702) 259-4067 or by e-mail at german@lasvegassun.com.