Court briefs for February 9, 2001

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 10:35 a.m.

Boxer's medication under consideration

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure will decide in March if boxer Ike Ibeabuchi should be forcibly medicated so he can stand trial on a sexual assault charge.

Ibeabuchi is accused of sexually assaulting an out-call service employee in July 1999, but some doctors believe that he isn't competent to stand trial. In other words, they don't believe he is able to understand the nature of the charges against him or help in his own defense.

They also don't believe that Ibeabuchi will ever become competent without anti-psychotic medication.

Ibeabuchi and his attorney, Richard Wright, however, contend the medication's side effects will ruin his boxing career -- one he hopes to continue if he is acquitted.

On Thursday, two Northern Nevada mental health experts testified that Ibeabuchi's mental status will likely deteriorate without the medication.

Bonaventure asked the attorneys on both sides to submit briefs on the issue and scheduled a March 23 hearing date.

Killer's appeal is rejected

The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Brendan Nasby, sentenced to life in prison for killing a fellow gang member in Las Vegas.

Nasby, 22, complained that he was denied a fair trial because the prosecution coerced testimony to obtain his conviction. Three co-defendants pleaded guilty to reduced charges in return for their testimony. But the court said there was no evidence to show the state "bargained for particularized testimony."

Nasby also argued there was insufficient corroborating evidence required to back up the testimony of his accomplices. But the court said there was independent evidence that showed Nasby told two people he admitted killing Michael L. Beasley, 18, and the murder weapon was found at his home.

Beasley's body was found near Lone Mountain on July 17, 1998, and Nasby was arrested a few weeks later.