Self-defense claimed in hotel killing

Rebecca Malone

Thursday, Aug. 16, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

The attorney for a man charged in the May 2000 slaying of a tourist at the Stratosphere told the jury Wednesday that his client was acting in self defense.

Val Stallworth, 46, is facing multiple charges in the strangulation death of Kentucky resident Stephen Nally and an earlier robbery at a local Travelodge.

If convicted, Stallworth could receive the death penalty for Nally's death.

Chief Deputy District Attorney L.J. O'Neale told jurors during opening statements Wednesday that Stallworth killed Nally during the second of two robberies he and Jamie Shuey carried out that spring.

Deputy Public Attorney Jordan Savage, however, said he will prove Nally was attacking his client and that Stallworth was only trying to protect himself when he put Nally in the chokehold that ultimately took his life.

Savage said he bound Stallworth after he stopped struggling, because he thought he might be "playing possum."

Nally was found bruised, bound and gagged in his hotel room on May 29, 2000, two days after he was killed.

Savage said Shuey was selling Nally drugs the night he died, but when the process took too long, Stallworth went into the hotel room after Shuey, Savage said. Then the struggle took place.

O'Neale is also asking jurors to convict Stallworth on robbery and kidnapping charges stemming from a May 12, 2000, incident at the Travelodge Motel, 2830 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

One of the victims of that crime, William Severson, is expected to testify that Stallworth was the man who forced him and Margorie Lopez into their hotel room and with the help of a woman, robbed them, tied them up with torn bedsheets and left.

The woman was later identified as Shuey through DNA tests of a cigarette butt left in the hotel room, O'Neale said.

Shuey, who faces similar charges, is expected to go to trial Dec. 17.