Murphy is in jail until hearing

Monday, March 20, 2000 | 11:17 a.m.

Attorneys were tight-lipped today on whether Sandy Murphy will be forced to remain in jail during her trial on charges of killing Ted Binion.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger and Murphy's lawyer, John Momot, declined comment, citing a confidentiality agreement stemming from a closed-door meeting Friday in the chambers of District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

Murphy, 28, and her reported lover, Rick Tabish, a 35-year-old Montana contractor, are to stand trial in Binion's September 1998 slaying next Monday.

Bonaventure tried to resolve Murphy's status with jail officials during Friday's meeting, but was unsuccessful.

He issued a news release after the meeting saying Murphy's latest arrest would be addressed at Wednesday's previously scheduled public hearing on last-minute pretrial matters.

That means Murphy will have to remain at the Clark County Detention Center at least until then.

Jail officials told the Sun Friday they wanted Murphy kicked out of the house arrest program following her incarceration for violating more rules.

Murphy was taken into custody about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at her new Regency Towers apartment at the Las Vegas Country Club for lying to jail officials about her whereabouts a month ago.

It was the second time in five months that she was jailed for violating the terms of her house arrest.

When Murphy was arrested in October, Bonaventure publicly scolded her about her "cavalier attitude" toward authority.

Jail officials said Murphy told them on Feb. 17 that she was at her attorney's office, but witnesses placed her at Walker Furniture that day. She had permission to move into the Regency Towers that evening.

Walker employees indicated Murphy was at the furniture store Feb. 17 on two occasions, officials said.

"If she violated house arrest, then she should remain in custody," Roger said Friday. "She's been given way too many chances."

Momot insisted Friday that Murphy has not violated any house arrest rules.

"This is incredible," Momot said. "I think my client is being discriminated against."

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.