Las Vegas Sun

November 10, 2009

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High court rejects killer’s appeal

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Monday rejected the appeal of Roberta Stevens, who was sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of her husband in Las Vegas in December 2001.

Stevens, 36, argued her guilty plea was involuntary because she was under the influence of psychotropic drugs and she was unable to think for herself. In her appeal, she said that when she submitted her plea she did not understand the nature of the offense and that her lawyer had not properly defended her. The court said that Stevens, when she pleaded guilty, acknowledged she was not acting under the influence of any drug and that she understood the nature of the plea.

Stevens was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for the slaying of 38-year-old James Stevens. She said she killed her husband after suffering verbal and physical abuse for 15 years.

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