Murphy still living the good life

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

Murder defendant Sandy Murphy continues to live a life of luxury even though she's been declared indigent by a judge who has ordered taxpayers to cover part of her legal expenses.

Last week Murphy, a 28-year-old onetime topless dancer under house arrest, moved into an apartment at the posh Regency Towers at the Las Vegas Country Club. The move comes less than a month before her March 13 trial on charges of killing Ted Binion, a wealthy former casino executive.

Her current benefactor, 81-year-old William Fuller, a Nevada mining executive, is believed to be paying the Regency Towers rent. Fuller, who last year testified that he met Murphy at the upscale Aristocrat restaurant, also has posted Murphy's $300,000 bail and is paying her lawyer, John Momot.

Murphy, known to come to court wearing designer clothes, recently was spotted at a local luxury car dealership helping Fuller pick out a new Mercedes. She also was seen buying furniture.

Under terms of her house arrest, Murphy must get permission from jail officials every time she leaves her apartment.

In December, District Judge Joseph Bonaventure found that Murphy had no money of her own and was eligible for up to $20,000 in taxpayer funds toward her legal expenses. About the same time, Murphy was observed Christmas shopping with Fuller at the Fashion Show mall. Momot later hired a consultant to help put out a favorable public relations spin for his client.

Before moving into the Regency Towers, Murphy created a stir within Binion's estate.

She nearly got away with persuading Nevada Power to turn off the electricity at Binion's $900,000 ranch-style home at 2408 Palomino Lane and transfer the account to her apartment at the country club, sources close to the estate said.

Murphy has been awarded the home, its contents and $300,000 in cash, but the estate is challenging the award, contending Binion had instructed his lawyer, James J. Brown, to cut her out of his will the day before he was killed. Because of the bitter court battle, she has been denied access to the home.

Nevada Power workers went to the Palomino Lane home to shut off the electricity last Thursday but were denied access by security officers working for the $50 million estate.

The security workers notified Brown, who called the power company.

Brown, estate sources said, was told by Nevada Power that "Sandy Binion" had telephoned asking to transfer the electricity to the Regency Towers.

"It was a pretty brazen thing to do," one estate source said.

Ultimately, Brown persuaded the power company not to make the transfer, forcing Murphy to put up a deposit with the utility on her new apartment.

Binion's sister, Horseshoe Club owner Becky Behnen, said she finds it "ludicrous" that Murphy is accepting taxpayer money for her defense.

"She shouldn't be doing it," Behnen said. "It doesn't endear her to the public."

Behnen said she believes Murphy is living off of cash she took from her brother after his death.

"Ted's paying for all of it," she said. "This is Ted's show."

Murphy, who lived with Binion for three years, also is charged along with her co-defendant, Rick Tabish, of cleaning out Binion's home of its cash and valuables. Binion was known to keep a lot of cash at his house. His $300,000 collection of rare coins and currency are among the items missing.

David Mattsen -- who is charged with Murphy and Tabish in the theft of Binion's silver fortune in Pahrump -- may hold the key to unraveling the mystery of what was taken from her brother's home, Behnen said.

Prosecutors are interested in striking a deal with Mattsen to cooperate in the Binion murder case.

Momot insisted that Murphy's friends and family members are keeping her afloat financially.

"She's not living her own life," Momot said. "She's at the hands of others."

The living conditions at the Regency Towers are more restrictive than Murphy's previous garden style apartment in Henderson, Momot said.

Murphy, he said, can't even go into the lobby of the high-rise without getting permission from jail officials.

Momot said Murphy is not leading a life one would envy.

"There's a constant campaign against her," he said. "She's being looked at as if she's living in a fishbowl every minute of the day. It's a very difficult way to live."

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.