Tuesday, April 17, 2001 | 11:02 a.m.
Despite beliefs by prosecutors that Margaret Rudin's alleged lover took her husband's remains to Nelson's Landing, a rental car company official testified this morning that the van he rented was returned clean.
Maria Romano, a general manager with U.S. Rental Car, said the Chevrolet Astro van Yehuda Sharon rented the day after Ronald Rudin disappeared was returned as clean as the day it was rented.
Ronald Rudin's charred remains were found in a desert gully at Nelson's Landing in January 1995. Defense attorneys believe whatever vehicle was used to take his remains to the area near Lake Mead would have returned dirty.
Romano took the stand this morning after the testimony of another witness Monday ended abruptly.
Jurors were sent home Monday afternoon when prosecutors became distressed to learn that Margaret Rudin, 56, is now claiming she has an alibi for much of the night in which they believe she killed Ronald Rudin.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owens said they were given no notice that Jeanne Nakashima was going to testify that she was with the defendant at Rudin's antique shop between 9:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 12:45 a.m. Dec. 19, 1994.
According to Nevada statutes, prosecutors must be informed of any alibi witnesses at least 10 days prior to trial. Defense attorney John Momot countered that the state has never said precisely when Ronald Rudin, 64, died, instead giving the defense a 30-day time frame.
District Judge Joseph Bonaventure was to rule today whether Nakashima would be allowed to testify.
A frustrated Bonaventure said he is greatly worried about the jurors. He told attorneys that everyone has a breaking point.
The trial, now in its eighth week, has been beset by several delays, long legal arguments that require the jurors to leave the courtroom, and lengthy cross-examinations. The jurors had been told the trial would last four to six weeks.
Prosecutors believe Rudin shot and killed her millionaire husband while he was sleeping in his bed on the evening of Dec. 18, 1994. They further contend that she and at least one accomplice decapitated him, placed him in a trunk and burned his remains at Nelson's Landing.
Ronald Rudin's remains were found by fishermen about a month later.
The defense's first witness, criminalist John DeHaan, testified Monday morning he believes the remains were burned elsewhere and placed in the trunk. The trunk was then burned at Nelson's Landing; the skull was placed next to it.
DeHaan said it would take six to 12 hours and 100 gallons of gasoline to reduce a 200-pound man to bones and ashes.
Defense attorneys hope that by casting doubt on the state's theory in the case, jurors will develop enough reasonable doubt to acquit Rudin. The attorneys are also expected to present evidence that Ronald Rudin wasn't killed in his bedroom.
To do that, one of their witnesses has re-created the bedroom and is expected to bring the model to the courtroom to discuss blood splatter evidence.
Bonaventure also ruled today on several motions from both sides.
The defense wanted jurors to know that a deputy district attorney told a judge six years ago that he knows Sharon did not kill Ronald Rudin.
Owens and prosecutor Gary Guymon believe Sharon, at the very least, helped Rudin dispose of Ronald Rudin's body. Sharon has been granted immunity in the case.
The judge ruled against the defense, saying that what attorneys say during arguments is not evidence.
Conversely, prosecutors didn't want jurors to hear testimony from people who reportedly heard Ronald Rudin talking about his alleged ties with the mob and gun running.
Defense attorney Michael Amador said jurors have a right to know that Ronald Rudin allegedly lived a dangerous life. He also wants them to know that Rudin didn't buy $1,500 worth of electronic bugging devices for herself, but for her husband so that he could eavesdrop on his employees.
In addition to murder and accessory to murder charges, Rudin also faces a wiretapping charge.
Bonaventure ruled jurors can hear the gun-running statements and statements regarding the electronic devices. However, they will not hear about the alleged mob ties, as they were far removed, in time, from the homicide.
If convicted of murder, Rudin could receive a life sentence. The murder accessory charge carries a one- to five-year sentence and the wiretapping charge a one- to six-year sentence.
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