News briefs for August 31, 2004

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

Supreme Court turns down appeal

The Nevada Supreme Court Monday rejected the petition of Bryan K. Robinson, sentenced to life in prison without parole for his part in the slaying of a 19-year-old man in North Las Vegas 14 years ago.

In his petition, Robinson argued that the lawyer who represented him at trial and on his first appeal was ineffective, and he should be granted a new trial. The Supreme Court said it has reviewed the record and oral arguments are not needed.

It rejected the claims that the lawyer was ineffective both at trial and on appeal.

Robinson was convicted of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, two counts of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in December 1988.

Court records show Robinson knocked 19-year-old Tracy Kennedy unconscious and that Derrick Hilliard shot and killed Kennedy at the Cheyenne Condominiums on Civic Center Drive.

Slain cabdriver's family given help

The State Peace Officers Council presented a $2,000 Victims of Violent Crime grant to the family of slain taxi driver Pairoj Chitprasart this morning.

Chitprasart, a driver for Nellis Cab, was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire Aug. 21 by a passenger who was trying to rob him. Chitprasart, 51, died Aug. 24.

James Scholl was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the attack.

Demolition of Sky-Vue delayed

The demolition of the Sky- Vue mobile home park will be delayed as officials check whether the aged trailers contain asbestos, city spokesman David Riggleman said this morning.

The city had given park owners Sandi and David DiMarco until Monday evening to arrange for the demolition. If they weren't ready to go, the city would contract for the work and bill them.

"One of the contractors we had been talking to to do the demolition on the site said that based on their experience some of the mobile homes that age may have asbestos in the flooring, around the pipes and places like that," Riggleman said.

Based on that caution, the city hired workers to check for asbestos. The work will be added to the DiMarco's bill, Riggleman said. They already owe the city about $95,000 in fees and fines stemming from the closure of Sky-Vue and relocation of its residents.

Fire hits firms on Sirius Avenue

A two-alarm fire in a commercial property at 3050 Sirius Ave. early this morning left about $25,000 in damage, according to the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department.

Firefighters arrived at the scene about 3 a.m. after an alarm from an automatic fire sprinkler went off in the 46,500-square-foot building divided into five areas, Tim Szymanski, department spokesman, said.

A company in Mexico City owns the building. It is unclear what caused the fire, but damage was confined to one of the two vacant units in the building, Szymanski said.

The businesses -- an auto company and an air-conditioner repair shop -- were expected to be open today.