Court briefs for February 1, 2001

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001 | 11:25 a.m.

Justices reject insanity defense

A Las Vegas man convicted of second-degree murder in an April 1995 shooting won a new trial Wednesday.

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Richard Johnson's defense attorney should not have been allowed to engage in an insanity defense over Johnson's objections.

Johnson was convicted of shooting George Hightower to death at Caesars Palace. He had wanted to argue that he shot Hightower in self-defense because he believed that Hightower was a member of a Voodoo gang.

Special Public Defender Phil Kohn, however, believed that Johnson was insane and presented that theory at the trial.

However, in Wednesday's ruling, the Supreme Court disagreed with Johnson's contention that his trial judge should have allowed him to represent himself at trial because of the conflict between him and Kohn.

But they did say that Kohn should not have overridden his client's wishes.

Judge rules case can go forward

District Judge James Mahan Wednesday ruled that a civil lawsuit filed by murder suspect Margaret Rudin should go forward.

Rudin, who is charged with killing her husband, Ron, six years ago, filed a lawsuit against Joseph DeLeo Jr. in August.

Rudin claims that DeLeo tricked her into selling the rights to her story for $1. She says that DeLeo misrepresented himself to her as an ordained staff pastor at Central Christian Church and that he had earned doctorate degrees in philosophy and Christian counseling.

On Wednesday, DeLeo, who is representing himself, asked Mahan to dismiss the lawsuit, and Mahan declined.

Mahan also noted that DeLeo didn't provide Amador with a copy of his motion.

Hearing set for father

A March 9 preliminary hearing date has been set for a Las Vegas man accused of punching his 3-week-old son in the chest, killing him.

Justice of the Peace William Jansen scheduled Joaquin Perry-Edwards' hearing date this morning after the Clark County district attorney's office filed a formal criminal complaint against Perry-Edwards charging him with murder by child abuse.

The complaint alleges that Perry-Edwards struck his son, Elijah, in the chest, rupturing his right atrium.

Perry-Edwards was arrested Jan. 25 after paramedics who were called to his home found the baby dead.

Former league president charged

A Clark County grand jury Tuesday indicted a former Green Valley Little League president with 17 counts of theft.

According to the indictment, which was unsealed Wednesday, Thomas Fico, 44, stole about $17,000 from the league's coffers in 1999.

Fico resigned from the league prior to the 2000 season.

Fico is scheduled to appear before District Judge Donald Mosley Feb. 15.