Court briefs for October 18, 2000

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 10:50 a.m.

Man, 59, to be tried in Stardust slaying

A 59-year-old man accused of shooting another man to death inside the Stardust hotel-casino's sports book has been bound over for trial.

Justice of the Peace William Jansen found there is sufficient evidence to try Anthony Cuccia in the Feb. 7 death of Philip Greenspan, 56, Chief Deputy District Attorney William Koot said.

Jansen made his decision after hearing testimony from a pathologist and a bet taker at the sports book who reportedly saw the shooting.

According to the testimony, Cuccia fired a shot into Greenspan's left chest and then shot him again in the back as he tried to flee, Koot said. Greenspan collapsed and died outside the casino.

The two men once lived in the same community in New York, but it's unclear if they knew each other.

Cuccia's preliminary hearing was delayed for months because he had been deemed incompetent to stand trial and was being treated at a state mental health facility in Sparks.

March trial set in Harrah's shooting

A March 19 trial date has been set for one of the two men believed to be responsible for the death of a California tourist at Harrah's hotel-casino.

Stephen Mullen Jr., 32, will be tried by District Judge Michael Cherry in the Sept. 8 shooting death of Heather Vitarelli, 29.

Mullen's co-defendant, Michael Frimmel, 31, is still fighting extradition from New Jersey.

Vitarelli was shot in the back as Harrah's security guards tried to detain Frimmel and Mullen, believing them responsible for thefts in the casino. Mullen resisted arrest and police believe he fired the shots during the struggle.