Death penalty studied in women’s killings

Erica D. Johnson

Friday, May 23, 2003 | 10:16 a.m.

Prosecutors will know in about a week whether they will seek the death penalty against the aspiring R&B singer charged in the triple shooting that left two women dead.

Alfonso "Slinky" Blake was expected to have his preliminary hearing Thursday before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith. But Blake, 33, said he would rather take his case directly to trial in District Court instead.

He is expected to enter a plea when he is arraigned before District Judge Sally Loehrer on June 2.

At Blake's arraignment, the state will announce whether it will seek the death penalty, Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas said.

"Between today and June 2, we'll take the case to the death penalty review committee, which will determine whether we'll seek the death penalty," he said.

Blake's attorney, Pete Christiansen, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Blake faces two counts of murder with a deadly weapon in the March 5 deaths of Sophear Choy, 19, and Priscilla Van Dine, 22.

He also faces one count of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon in the shooting of Kim Choy, 23, who was shot in the head and hands.

Though additional charges could eventually be levied against Blake, Daskas said, they would be minor compared to the charges he already faces.

"We're most concerned about the murder charges," he said.

Daskas said Blake's decision to forgo the scheduled hearing has little effect on prosecutors' case. However, the hearing could have given prosecutors sworn testimony that could have been used at trial if necessary, he said.

"But procedurally, there is no difference," he said.

Daskas said he planned to call about five or six witnesses to the stand to testify during the expected hearing. He would not specify who those witnesses were.

"We were going to call the witnesses who are essential to proving that Mr. Blake pulled the trigger," he said.

Daskas would not comment on whether Choy is in police custody, saying only that she is not in Las Vegas.

Police allege Blake shot the women execution-style in a desert area in southwest Las Vegas after an argument while the four were moving furniture and personal belongings from Blake's home.

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