Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

May 2005 trial set for siblings in murder case of 3-year-old

Two siblings charged in the January 2003 Mesquite stabbing attack that killed a 3-year-old girl and left her sister paralyzed won't stand trial until May 2, 2005.

The trial date was set this morning when 20-year-old Beau Maestas and his 17-year-old sister Monique Maestas changed lawyers. The siblings remain jailed while awaiting trial on murder and other charges stemming from the attack that left Krystianna Cowan dead and her 10-year-old sister, Brittney Bergeron, a paraplegic.

Private attorney Chris Oram now represents Beau Maestas because Maestas' previous lawyer, special public defender Phil Kohn, recently was appointed to take charge of the public defender's office. A second lawyer will be appointed at a later date, Oram said.

Special public defenders Alzora Jackson and Gloria Navarro now represent Monique Maestas. Lawyer Ivette Maningo is still on the case, Navarro said.

The Maestas siblings face the death penalty for the attack.

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