Suspect in slaying, police assault displays odd behavior at hearing

Kim Smith

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

The man accused of strangling a prostitute and running over a police officer was led from the courtroom this morning after he displayed unusual behavior.

Vornelius Phillips, 25, appeared before Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman as 12 formal charges were filed against him.

Before the hearing, Phillips appeared to be talking or singing to himself, and when Zimmerman took the bench and called his name, Phillips greeted a courtroom packed full of police officers with "How ya doing? Everybody doing all right today?"

Phillips, whose hands were enclosed in orange protective tubes, told Zimmerman he didn't know what he was doing in the courtroom.

"Where's my family at? I've been kidnapped," Phillips said.

Phillips refused to stop beating the tubes together or talking despite the threat of his mouth being sealed with duct tape. He was eventually led from the courtroom.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas filed the charges in open court. They range from murder to evading police.

According to police, Phillips hailed a cab near the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 21 and went to McCarran International Airport. He then got behind the wheel of another cab while the driver was handling baggage and sped off, police allege.

Joan Lewis, a visitor from Maryland, was in the back seat of the cab as it sped off. She apparently jumped out when Phillips refused to stop and let her out, police said. Lewis is recovering from her injuries at University Medical Center,

When traffic slowed because of another accident, Phillips allegedly approached another driver and forced his way behind the wheel of an SUV, police said. The driver escaped the truck.

A police chase ensued and took officers from at least five different police agencies along Interstate 215 and U.S. 95.

During the chase, police allege Phillips ran over Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Kintzel while the trooper was putting down metal spikes on U.S. 95 to puncture the tires of the fleeing vehicle. Kintzel underwent brain surgery and this morning remained in critical condition at University Medical Center.

After the trooper was hit, a Metro Police officer rammed the stolen SUV to end the chase.

An hour later the body of Ivy Shunstrom, 40, was found at a Budget Suites motel and forensic evidence reportedly ties Phillips to her death, according to prosecutors.

This morning Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee asked Zimmerman to close Phillips' preliminary hearing, saying that a courtroom filled with uniformed officers would taint any future jurors. More than 50 officers filled the courtroom this morning.

Zimmerman said she was not inclined to do so, but the issue was made moot when Daskas said he intends to present the case to a grand jury.

Phillips faces one murder count, one attempted murder count, two robbery counts, two kidnapping counts, four battery counts and one assault with a deadly weapon count. He also faces an evading police charge.

Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty against Phillips.

Phillips is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.