Relatives of Binion, defendants may testify at trial

Tuesday, March 21, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish plan to make the Ted Binion murder trial a family affair.

The two people charged with killing Binion filed court papers late Monday listing key Binion family members as potential defense witnesses at the trial, which is set to get under way Monday in the courtroom of District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

Topping the list is Jack Binion, the executor of his younger brother's $50 million estate and the man behind the estate's investigation into the late gambling figure's September 1998 slaying.

Also named as possible defense witnesses are Binion's daughter, Bonnie Binion; ex-wife Doris Binion; sister Becky Behnen; brother-in-law Nick Behnen and nephew Benny Behnen. Becky Behnen, one of the first to suspect foul play in her brother's death, also is listed as a prosecution witness.

Murphy and Tabish also named themselves as potential witnesses, as well as several of their family members.

Among those who might be called is Tabish's wife, Mary Jo Tabish, who has stood by her husband despite reports he was romantically involved with Murphy at the time of Binion's killing.

Murphy's father, Kenneth Murphy, her stepmother, Sandra Jane Murphy, and her brother, Mike Murphy, also are on the defense list.

And Binion's good friend, gambler and casino developer Bob Stupak, and Murphy's former lawyer, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, are included along with Clark County Coroner Ron Flud and Sun reporter Jeff German who has been covering the Binion probe from its beginning.

Goodman appears on the list following a recent attempt by a Murphy benefactor to pay him a large sum of money to return to the defense team.

Daredevil Evel Knievel, whose son Robbie once was in business with Tabish, also is listed, but sources close to the defense said it is unlikely he would be called to the witness stand.

Antone Davi, who pleaded guilty last year to killing underworld associate Herbie Blitzstein, could be called by the defense to testify at the trial. Davi once told another inmate, ex-cop Ron Mortensen, that the mob was scheming to kill Binion. Mortensen turned over notes of his conversations with Davi to the FBI.

Several co-defendants charged with lesser crimes in the Binion murder case, David Mattsen, Michael Milot and John Joseph, also appear on the list of defense witnesses.

The records keeper for Cheetah's strip club, where Murphy met Binion in 1995 while dancing topless, is listed, as well.

Earlier this month prosecutors filed papers naming 276 potential witnesses.

But Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger said he expected to call less than half of those to the witness stand.

The long-awaited trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.

Murphy, 28, and Tabish, a 35-year-old Montana contractor, are charged with stealing Binion's cash and valuables after killing him at his 2408 Palomino Lane home in Las Vegas on Sept. 17, 1998.

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