Court rules in death penalty case

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 | 5:45 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court allowed a death penalty case to go to trial despite a faulty filing in the case by the Clark County District Attorney’s office.

The court allowed the District Attorney’s Office to correct the death penalty notice and for the trial of DeAngelo Carroll to proceed. Carroll faces first-degree murder charges in the May 2005 slaying of Timothy Hadland.

Carroll was one of several people accused of killing Hadland near Lake Mead after Hadland was fired from his job as a doorman at the Palomino Club strip club in North Las Vegas. The owners of the club said Hadland made derogatory remarks to cabdrivers about the club and the comments had hurt business.

The prosecution alleges that Carroll was paid for the killing.

Kenneth Counts, one of those accused of shooting Hadland, was convicted of conspiracy. Jayson Taoipu, 17, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Anabel Espindola, the manager of the club, also pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge.

Luis Hidalgo Jr., the former owner of the club and Luis Hidalgo III, are scheduled to go on trial in January, according to prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo.

The Supreme Court said the original death penalty notice failed to clearly detail the allegations that led to the slaying, but the District Attorney’s office can amend the complaint and move forward with Carroll’s trial.