Murder victim had numerous enemies

Kim Smith

Monday, Oct. 9, 2000 | 10:36 a.m.

The best friend of a woman slain in 1992 testified Friday that the man accused of killing Samantha Scotti and three others was furious with Scotti.

But he wasn't the only one, Monique Morris said Friday, the third day in the capital murder trial of Richard Powell. Another group of men was well fought with Scotti -- killing her puppy -- on the day of her death.

Authorities believe Powell, an alleged drug dealer, killed Scotti, 24, because she set him up for police to get herself out of trouble. Three others, Lisa Boyer, 26, Jermaine Woods and Stephen Walker, both 19, were killed to eliminate witnesses, police allege.

Deputy Special Public Defenders Lee McMahon and Bret Whipple told jurors during opening statements that Scotti and the other victims didn't lack enemies. Scotti had informed on at least nine other drug dealers in the months before her death, including her boyfriend.

Morris told jurors that several months before the murders she and Scotti ran into Powell near the Clark County Detention Center and Powell began cursing at Scotti and accusing her of being a "snitch bitch."

Two months before the murder, Morris said, she saw Powell again.

"He just asked why we was hanging around her because she was a snitch," Morris said. "He said we should stop hanging around her because something bad was going to happen to her."

Morris also testified as to the complicated relationships of Scotti and those close to her.

At the time of her death Scotti was dating Anthony Collins, who was in jail, but she was having an affair with Walker, one of the other victims.

Under cross-examination, Morris said she spoke with Scotti several times over the phone. During one of those conversations, Morris said "there was a bunch of drama going on over there" with people screaming, things being thrown and doors being slammed.

Morris said a number of Collins' friends were at Scotti's apartment accusing her of snitching on Collins and of being unfaithful to him.

Although Scotti told her to call the police, Morris said she didn't because it "wasn't in her nature."

At one point Morris said she heard Scotti screaming at the men not to throw her puppy. She later learned the puppy died.

Morris also testified Boyer's boyfriend had pulled a gun on her at least twice and had punched and kicked her on numerous other occasions.

Police discovered Scotti and the three others slain after a 4-year-old girl called them. The girl told police that a man she knew as "Little Ray" or "Uncle Ray" and a man with "scary eyes" walked into the apartment with "real guns" and killed everyone.

She later identified Powell as "scary eyes" through a photo lineup.

Evans was convicted and is on Nevada's death row. Powell also faces the death penalty if convicted.