Phillips’ arraignment postponed because of a conflict of interest

Angela Soo

Thursday, May 24, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

The arraignment of Vornelius Phillips was postponed Wednesday because of a conflict of interest in the public defender's office.

Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee told District Judge Lee Gates that a public defender had previously represented a potential witness in the case during an unrelated case.

The witness, a homeless man, found 40-year-old Ivy Miller's body April 21 in her room at the Budget Suites on Stardust Road. DNA tests showed that Miller's blood was found on Phillips' clothing, police say.

Phillips is charged in that slaying, and prosecutors allege that later that morning Phillips stole a taxi from McCarran International Airport with a Maryland tourist still inside and led police on a high-speed chase. Phillips is also charged with hitting a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper on U.S. 95 at the end of the chase.

Phillips was scheduled to enter a plea on 12 different charges,including murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault and battery.

His mental competence is an issue that will be addressed after his arraignment, Robert Daskas, deputy district attorney said.

During his court appearance Wednesday, Phillips made several outbursts that baffled Gates and other attorneys in the courtroom.

Phillips asked Gates several times, "Do I have to die in here judge?"

Gates, looking confused, turned to Phillips' attorney for an explanation but received none. Seconds later, Phillips pointed to a man and said, "Then why is that man trying to kill me?"