Trial starts for man accused of killing wife while she was on 911

Kim Smith

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

Jury selection was to start this afternoon in the case of an 81-year-old Sandy Valley man accused of shooting his wife to death in September.

Fred Huston faces a single count of murder with use of a deadly weapon, victim over 65.

If convicted, Huston could be sentenced to life with or without the possibility of parole.

Authorities allege Huston shot his wife, Eldona, 80, as she spoke with a 911 operator on Sept. 24.

A tape of Eldona Huston's 20-minute phone conversation was played during Huston's preliminary hearing in October, and jurors are expected to hear it during his trial this week before District Judge Michael Douglas.

Throughout the last minutes of her life, Eldona Huston pretended to be speaking with a family friend while imparting crucial information to the dispatcher about her situation and the danger police might face upon their arrival.

Fred Huston can be heard in the background threatening his wife, counting down and begging her to say goodbye.

At times, Eldona Huston told the dispatcher her husband was pointing a gun at her and at other times she can be heard cursing him for striking her with it.

"I'm not ready to die and you aren't either," Eldona Huston said on the tape. "You're a fine person, Fred. Please don't do that."

Seconds before the fatal shot is heard, Eldona Houston exclaimed "Ouch."

The tape ends with a 10-minute conversation between Fred Huston and the 911 operator during which Huston tells her that his wife had been "aggravating" him.

Huston's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Kedric Bassett, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Police officials said the long response time in the Huston case was due largely to Sandy Valley's location 50 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

Seven patrol officers and a sergeant are responsible for police coverage in Sandy Valley, but they also respond to calls in Primm, Jean, Goodsprings and the Southern Highlands development, an area roughly 200 square miles.