Murphy’s character, Tabish’s finances are early issues

Monday, Oct. 18, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

The prosecution focused on the allegedly questionable character and actions of Sandy Murphy and alleged financial hardships facing Rick Tabish during the first full day of testimony Friday in the retrial of the Ted Binion murder case.

Prosecutors spent much of the morning examining Murphy's background, questioning an attorney who deposed Murphy when he was preparing to represent Binion's ex-wife, Doris Binion, in divorce proceedings against the millionaire casino figure.

Doris Binion's lawyer, Josh Landish, testified that Murphy told him in February 1996 that she met Binion at Cheetahs strip club, where she had danced for a friend's "clients from Texas" to settle debts after she lost $13,000 at Caesars Palace.

Murphy told Landish she "never formally worked" at Cheetahs but later met Binion there.

Binion subsequently gave Murphy a credit card with a $10,000 monthly limit, a health club membership as well as "pocket money," Murphy said in the the deposition.

Murphy also told Landish that the majority of the credit card use was to purchase items for Binion.

Murphy said Binion told her his ex-wife had "run off with a weight trainer" and that in addition to Murphy he was also dating a woman named Sally. Murphy said she quickly "made him choose" between Sally and herself and "he chose me."

Landish said Murphy told him she "had a good relationship with Ted (Binion) and "would never leave him."

He said Murphy's strong position in Binion's life was underscored the day Doris Binion went to her former home to collect her belongings in accordance to a court order.

Murphy told Landish she never talked to Ted Binion about the court order but instead found out by going through his paperwork because she's "nosey, curious and he's my man and I want to know what's going on in his life."

Landish said Murphy told him she arranged for four security guards to come to Binion's home to prevent Doris Binion from taking more items than the court order entitled her to.

In cross examination, Cristalli pointed to statements in the deposition about how Murphy tried to help Binion with his daughter, Bonnie Binion.

Murphy said because she was "the woman of the house and he was the man of the house" she complied with Binion's request that she try to help his daughter with problems ranging from bad grades to her allegedly "bad attitude" toward her father.

Steve Morris, a former baccarat manager at the Horseshoe Club and close friend of Binion, talked about Binion's heroin use and how Murphy talked about it in the months before his death.

Morris, now an executive casino host at the Aladdin, said Murphy was constantly telling him that Binion was "going to kill himself and have an overdose because he's not taking care of himself."

Morris said he never saw Binion in the state Murphy had told him Binion was in and that she always told him "not to come over" when he would tell her he was coming to check on Binion.

Morris later acknowledged that he is not an expert on heroin addicts and was not aware that some heroin addicts can function fairly normally despite being high.

Prosecutors also called witnesses to discuss gifts Murphy purchased for Tabish and a stay the two defendants had at a posh Beverly Hills hotel prior to Binion's death.

Witness after witness in the afternoon were asked about Tabish's finances. Prosecutors allege Tabish's motive in the slaying was rooted in his failed business dealings and fledgling financial status.

Allan Bleak, who in 1998 was vice president of development and construction for a planned golf and condo community in Mesquite, said Tabish's MRT Transportation company stood to reap between $10 million to $12 million for unearthing a gravel deposit for use in the construction of the condo complex in 1998, but failed to get the job done.

Dale Shores, a senior risk manager at GE Capital, said the company suffered a $196,000 loss after it agreed to underwrite loans so Tabish could lease tractors and trailers for his company. Shores said in August 1998 Tabish was $52,000 behind in lease payments.

Vicki Zeier, the clerk, recorder and treasurer of Missoula County, Mont., where Tabish is originally from, testified Tabish had accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal tax liens in relation to his businesses in that state.

Tabish's attorney, Tony Serra, had said on Thursday that Tabish had complete "economic viability." Tabish had $800,000 in accounts receivable and had just acquired a contract expected to be worth $5 million at the time of Binion's death, Serra told the jurors.

The defense did little to support Serra's claim on Friday, however. The prosecution was scheduled to continue its case today before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

Binion was found dead in 1998 in his home. Soon afterward, Tabish was caught digging up Binion's stash of silver in Pahrump.

In 2000 Tabish and Murphy were convicted of murder in connection with Binion's death and were sentenced to life in prison, but the Nevada Supreme Court later overturned the convictions.

Defense attorneys argue Binion died of a drug overdose.