Not-guilty plea entered in singer’s death

Friday, July 9, 2004 | 8:21 a.m.

A 49-year-old limo driver accused of killing his ex-girlfriend pleaded not guilty Thursday.

Joseph C. Suggs is charged with murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the death of Ana Outcalt, a 38-year-old nightclub singer. Suggs is also charged with violating a protective order issued to keep him away from Outcalt.

Suggs is scheduled to stand trial Dec. 6 before District Judge John McGroarty.

Suggs remained jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail Thursday. Suggs' lawyer, Bob Amundson, said he would be filing a motion to have the bail amount reduced to $50,000 in the coming weeks.

Outcalt's body was found May 29 in Henderson near Lake Mead Parkway and Pabco Road. She had been strangled with a rope, authorities said.

Amundson, who said there is no forensic evidence that shows Suggs killed Outcalt, said the only basis for the charge prosecutors have shown has been that Suggs was the last person to see Outcalt alive.

Suggs and Outcalt had a relationship with a history of violence, police said.

Amundson said while that was true, that did not prove Suggs killed Outcalt.

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