Judge acts quickly on Murphy, Tabish

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 | 11:08 a.m.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure wasted little time Monday signing the judgment of conviction of Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish.

The quick action, which comes after Friday's sentencing, paves the way for Clark County Detention Center officials to transfer the convicted killers to the Nevada prison system to begin serving their lengthy terms of confinement.

Bonaventure Friday handed out sentences that will keep Tabish in prison for at least 25 years and Murphy behind bars for 22 years in the death of wealthy gambling figure Ted Binion.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, the lead prosecutor in the Binion murder case, said his office filed the signed judgment of conviction with the county clerk's office late Monday and planned to give a copy to jail officials this morning.

That means the transfer of Murphy and Tabish could be imminent.

Deputy Chief Bill Young, who oversees Metro's Detention Services Division, told the Sun last week that he was anxious to turn over the defendants to state prison officials.

He described Murphy and Tabish as high-maintenance inmates.

Murphy is likely to be transported to the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility in North Las Vegas, and Tabish could go to one of two state prisons in Indian Springs. Last week, Bonaventure ruled Murphy could not receive credit for the eight months she served here under house arrest.

Binion's $55 million estate also has been anxious to obtain a copy of the judgment of conviction so that it can move against the defendants in civil court.

The estate plans to ask District Judge Michael Cherry to cut Murphy out of Binion's will and seek a judgment against Murphy and Tabish in the estate's wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the former casino executive's Sept. 17, 1998, slaying.

The estate also expects to seek a judgment against Murphy in her $2 million palimony lawsuit.