Jurors deliberate penalty for convicted killer Antonetti

Erica D. Johnson

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

Jurors could begin deciding as early as this afternoon whether the North Las Vegas man convicted of gunning down a 20-year-old woman should be executed for his crime.

A penalty phase for Joseph Antonetti was expected to continue today, after jurors on Monday convicted him of one count each of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the shooting that killed Mary Amina and wounded her boyfriend, Danny Stewart, 30.

Antonetti, 27, was also convicted of an additional charge of possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Clark County prosecutors Pam Weckerly and Melisa De La Garza declined to comment on the verdict until after the penalty phase. Defense attorneys Peter Christiansen and Christopher Oram also said they would not comment until after the sentencing.

When Weckerly was asked whether the state would argue for the death penalty, however, she said, "We'll be asking the jury to consider that as an option."

Amina's family members hugged and wept in the courtroom of District Judge Joseph Bonaventure as the verdict was read.

"Our whole family is just so happy," Amina's mother, Debra Steil, said. "(My daughter) didn't deserve this. I'm just so happy she got justice."

Steil said was not sure if she believed Antonetti should be put to death.

"I don't know if I expect someone to take someone else's life. That's not me," she said. "But I would expect life without parole."

But Steil's husband and Amina's stepfather, George Steil, said he believed death would be the only appropriate punishment for the man he described as a "cold-hearted killer."

Antonetti also faces a second trial in connection with the November shooting of his former roommate, Susanna Smith. Police allege Antonetti shot Smith nine times when she asked him to leave her home.

Smith survived and testified during the trial before Bonaventure.

"He's an animal," George Steil said. "This coward executed my daughter in cold blood. He obviously enjoys committing violence against women."

Prosecutors say Antonetti and a man named Michael Bartoli went to Amina's apartment near Decatur Boulevard and Twain Avenue on Dec. 1, 2002, to inquire about some of Bartoli's belongings.

After the four smoked methamphetamine together, prosecutors said, the men got into a heated argument with the couple and Antonetti opened fire.

Amina was shot twice in the face and Stewart was shot once in the nose and once in the leg. Defense attorneys had maintained during the trial that Bartoli was actually the triggerman.

Following the penalty phase, jurors will decide whether Antonetti should be be sentenced to death, life in prison without parole or life in prison with parole possible after 40 years. Or, they could choose a sentence of 40 to 100 years.

Antonetti previously was convicted of battery by a prisoner and grand larceny auto in 1994.

He is also charged in an attempted escape from the Clark County Detention Center in which he and five other inmates allegedly smuggled tools into the jail and used a hacksaw to cut through the window.

George Steil said the attempted escape proves that security at and around the jail needs tightening.

"Note to Sheriff (Bill Young): Maybe they ought to look outside that jail and see what's going on," Steil said.