Court briefs for July 11, 2001

Wednesday, July 11, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

Pathologist unsure about plastic bag

A forensic pathologist in the Brookey West murder trial testified Tuesday that he can't tell if the plastic bag found tied around her mother's face was placed there before or after she died.

Dr. Gary Telgenhoff testified Monday that although he suspects Christine Smith, 64, was suffocated, he can't say how she died because her body was so badly decomposed.

On Tuesday, Telgenhoff said the bag could have been placed over Smith's mouth and nose after she died. He also conceded that many people place sheets and other items over deceased people's faces, perhaps as a sign of respect.

Telgenhoff said that Smith was taking some asthma medicine that is known to cause heart palpitations. It's only in extremely rare cases, however, that the drugs cause death, he said.

Prosecutors are seeking to prove that West killed her mother for her Social Security checks and then hid her body in a 55-gallon trash can for three years.

Guilty plea entered in fatal crash

Franklin Santos, 24, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted reckless driving in connection with the accident that left singer Kenny Shauntee dead.

Santos could receive a one-to-five-year prison sentence or probation when he is sentenced Aug. 13.

Shauntee, 47, was heading home March 30 on Warm Springs Road when, police say, Santos failed to stop at a red light at Industrial Road and crashed into Shauntee's limousine at 60 mph.

Relatives said that Shauntee, who had performed at various Strip lounges since 1979, was driving the limo because his usual vehicle had been stolen.

There was no evidence to indicate the accident was drug or alcohol related, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker.

Woman pleads guilty in case

A Las Vegas woman who pleaded guilty in May for her part in a Henderson double homicide will be spending the next two to five years in prison.

District Judge Michael Cherry sentenced Cyndy Wasso Tuesday as part of a agreement in which she pleaded guilty to accessory to murder. She was also ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution.

Police believe Wasso on Aug. 22 drove Ralph Goodman, 23, and Stephen Ciolino, 31, to and from the scene of the slaying of Steve Szany, 21, and David Bender, 22.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Goodman and Ciolino, who are expected to go to trial later this year.

More time given for defense appeal

The defense attorneys in the Margaret Rudin case have been given additional time to file their motion for a new trial.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure has agreed to give the public defender's office until July 20 to file the motion, which was originally due this week.

The postponement means that Rudin will be sentenced one week later, or on Aug. 31, should Bonaventure reject the defense motion.

Rudin was convicted May 1 of first-degree murder in the December 1994 shooting death of her wealthy real estate developer husband, Ronald Rudin, 64.