News briefs for June 2, 2004

Wednesday, June 2, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

Henderson changes water restrictions

Following the direction of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Henderson City Council on Tuesday voted 5-0 to revise the city's water use restrictions regarding car washing, misting systems and fountains.

The new Henderson rules mirror those adopted by the Water Authority in February, which allow homeowners to wash their cars once a week so long as they use a nozzle that shuts off when it isn't being used.

The changes also allow residents to turn on their misting systems and permit businesses to run their misting systems during the months of June, July and August between noon and 10 p.m.

The revised fountain rule allows businesses to operate their water features if they take out 50 square feet of grass for every square foot of water in the fountain or pool. If a company has no turf to eliminate, it could pay an annual fee instead, Henderson Utility Services Director Kurt Segler said.

Woman's bail set in daughter's death

Bail of $150,000 was set Tuesday for a local woman charged with the murder of her diabetic daughter.

District Attorney David Roger said the bail amount, set by Justice of Peace Douglas Smith, is "a little less" than what courts usually require in murder cases, but the prosecutor said it is sufficient to ensure she shows up.

"Our goal is not to punish a person accused of crime," he said. "Our goal is to secure their presence in court and protect the community."

Botzet is not going to flee "because she has a very good defense," her lawyer, Herb Sachs, said.

He said the bail was set too high and alleged Smith's decision was influenced by the fact that he is running for state Supreme Court. Sachs said he will request another judge for the case.

Botzet's daughter Ariel died in February when her insulin level dropped too low. A doctor told Metro Police investigators that Botzet could have saved her daughter by seeking proper medical attention.

Man pleads guilty in father's death

A 33-year-old man accused of killing his father and a family friend on Thanksgiving Day 2003 pleaded guilty to one count of murder with a deadly weapon on Tuesday.

Bert Matthews avoided the possibility of the death penalty by entering the plea in the deaths of his father, Berter "Harry" Matthews, 61, and family friend Byron Zackler.

The agreement calls for Bert Matthews to serve 20 years to life on one count of first-degree murder and another 20 years to life for using a deadly weapon. The terms will be served consecutively.

The son and father got into an argument on the holiday, police said, and Bert Matthews pulled a gun from under his bed. He told his father he was going to kill himself but, in a struggle over the gun, he shot his father in the leg, police said.

Police allege his father dared him to shoot him in the head, so the younger Matthews did.

Zackler, hearing the struggle from an adjoining room, told Harry Matthews to let his son kill himself, according to the police report. That enraged Bert Matthews, police said, so he reloaded the gun and shot the family friend.

Election lawsuit ordered changed

A judge has told perennial candidate Mike Schaefer that he must sue each and every one of the state's legislators in order to change the way the ballot works in Nevada.

Schaefer had filed a lawsuit against Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax asking him to list the names of candidates in random order. Schaefer, who would be listed fourth among five Democrats in the Senate District 1 primary, argues that people at the top of a ballot have an unfair advantage.

But on Thursday, District Judge Jessie Walsh asked that Schaefer amend the lawsuit to include legislators and Secretary of State Dean Heller, who would be in charge of laws that set ballot requirements.

Schaefer filed the amended suit on Tuesday, but so far no hearing has been set on the amended lawsuit, he said.

Van pushed into pedestrians

Metro Police traffic officers are investigating the hit-and-run crash Tuesday morning that sent eight people near the Las Vegas Strip to a hospital.

Police said a minivan stopped to allow two pedestrians to cross Flamingo Road near the Strip about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. A Chevrolet Blazer hit the minivan from behind, pushing it into a crowd of pedestrians.

One of the eight people was hospitalized in the accident.