Arraignment set for accused killer

Wednesday, April 18, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

Justice of the Peace William Jansen ruled Tuesday that enough evidence exists to prove a Las Vegas woman was murdered and her daughter was responsible.

Jansen set a May 1 arraignment for Brookey West, who is accused of killing her mother, Christine Smith. Police believe West, 36, killed Smith, 68, in February 1998, sealed her remains in a 56-gallon plastic trash can and put the can in storage for three years.

West's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee, argued last week that the state doesn't have sufficient evidence to show that a crime occurred because a coroner was unable to determine how the victim died.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou, however, argued there are plenty of other factors that point to Smith's death as a homicide.

For one thing, a white kitchen trash bag was tied tightly over West's nose, mouth and chin, Coumou said.

In addition, Metro homicide Detective David Mesinar testified that Smith had never been reported missing. He also said someone with Smith's personal identification number regularly used Smith's bank account between February 1998 and Feb. 5, when the remains were found by storage unit renters who complained about the stench coming from the unit.