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By Cara McCoy 
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 | 6:53 p.m.
Sandy Murphy
Ted Binion
Sun Archives
- Murphy loses in appeal to collect from Binion’s estate (1-8-2009)
- Court rejects appeal of Sandra Murphy (11-18-2008)
- The dead tycoon, his girlfriend, her lover and stolen silver (10-24-2008)
- Appeals denied for Tabish and Murphy in Binion case (3-4-2008)
- Binion cases long on drama but out of time (7-11-2007)
- Lawyer recounts why he cut Murphy out of will (10-28-2004)
Sandra Murphy, known for her conviction and eventual acquittal in the death of her boyfriend and Las Vegas casino executive Ted Binion, is suing the state for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
She’s also seeking her designation as a felon be wiped clean.
In a lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court on Tuesday, Murphy claims she has been “rejected for numerous opportunities for employment for which she would otherwise be qualified” because she is considered a felon.
In the suit, she claims her lawyer failed to call a Nye County sheriff’s deputy who testified at a preliminary hearing on Aug. 23, 1999, to testify at trial — testimony she claims would have led jurors to a different verdict.
In the suit, she doesn’t specify which of her two trials she’s referring to.
Murphy says her constitutional rights to effective counsel and to due process were violated by her attorney’s failure to ask Huggins to testify. She also claims to have been the victim of unfair prosecution.
She says Huggins knew about a conversation involving her co-defendant, her lover Richard Tabish, and former Nye County Sheriff Wade Lieseke. She says that what they talked about indicated Tabish had permission to take silver from Binion’s stash after he died.
In 2000, Murphy and Tabish were convicted on murder and burglary charges in the death of Binion and of taking silver from the vault. The Nevada Supreme Court later granted a new trial, during which Tabish and Murphy were ultimately convicted on burglary charges but acquitted of murder.
Murphy is asking for her criminal conviction to be cleared and is seeking punitive damages in excess of $50,000. She represented herself in the filing and lists an address in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Efforts to reach Murphy by phone were unsuccessful.
Murphy was sentenced to one to five years in prison for her role in taking the silver collection of Binion that was buried in a vault in the desert near Pahrump. After the second trial, she was released for time served.
Tabish remains incarcerated at Ely State Prison. A parole hearing is set for Jan. 26.
The state Attorney General’s office said it hasn’t been served with the lawsuit.
Her filing has all the professionalism of a jailhouse lawsuit. She has two chances to prevail, none and none at all.
Anyone who has read the full testimony & evidence knows she got away with murder. She...like OJ..is showing how stupid she is by getting herself back in the spotlight. If she had any brains at all she would disappear.
LOL... No one ever said Ms. Murphy was intelligent!
This travesty of justice must not stand. Golddiggin ho's--uh--I mean Silverdiggin ho's have rights. If not for the heinous persecution of this fine lady, she could still be practicing her ancient and noble trade. Can't believe how heartless you people are.
Funny how she hasn't locked onto an old fool with money by now. I think she's knocking on 40, so there's still some life there. I read she has family supporting her in Laguna Beach, but you know the wild side is still there. Bet she'll be back here....
Sandra Murphy looks like Steven Segall in drag.
I also thought Tabish was still incarcerated at Indian Springs (Southern Desert CC) and possibly were to be released this year.
Sandy, Sandy, Sandy ! never fails to keep us all entertained here in Vegas. Why doesn't she just stay over there in that hole called Orange County California where she originally crawled out of, and escaped back to when the going got tough, and take care of her mother...
I am not a lawyer and have no friggin idea how the legal system works except to say that the one with the best (usually most expensive) lawyer generally wins. And when I say best, I don't necessarily mean the most knowledgeable. I mean the one that plays golf with the right people, goes to the right parties and generally is well connectioned. Intelligence does help, though.
Anyway, how is it that Murphy sues the State for her lawyer's failures? Shouldn't she be suing her lawyer?
You go Sandy. Don't pay any attention to all those naysayers. Wrong is wrong and no amount of dancing around the truth will make it right, or just.
muddapucker, you have it absolutely right. There is NO justice in Nevada without juice. If you ain't got it you are goin' down.
logic_should_rule,
how do you know what her filing looks like? I didn't see it posted with the article.
I'm glad to learn of this, and hope she succeeds. The first trial was so ridiculous it was as if the judge was an extra prosecutor in the courtroom. Some of the prosecution witnesses were so believable it is surprising that even someone with as little integrity as David Roger would present them to the jury with a straight face.
The original jury was a panel of cowards, afraid to do their duty correctly in the face of pressure from corrupt public officials and the casino industry. If there ever was a "reasonable doubt," it was in this case. It should have never been filed. I am one of the taxpayers who will have to pay Ms. Murphy. I will be glad to contribute my share.
Edit to my above comment -- it should read:
Some of the prosecution witnesses were so UNbelievable it is surprising that even someone with as little integrity as David Roger would present them to the jury with a straight face.
geezelouise (love your username!) and LVBear :
I love Sandy Murphy ! We have Sandra Murphy to thank for so much! I mean she (and Rick Tabbish) gave our city a publicity shot in the arm equaled only perhaps by The Rat Pack. This was everything the world hungers for Las Vegas Glamour, sex, crime, gum shoe investigation. We were glued to the TV sets. This case MADE Court TV! We need more Sandra Murphys, OJ's, Ted Binions, Anthony Spilotros, Lefty Rosenthals, More now!!!!
Let's get Art Bell to testify, space aliens and supernatural beings, ghosts and chupracabra monitor much of the Pahrump Area - and Bell can telepathically translated their communications.
GrandmaCrabby :
You have all the elements there for a great movie script! get writing!
LVBEAR The reason the prosecution wittnesses were unbelievable is they were the comapny that Murphy kept and she refused to tesify or you would have really heard some unbelievable testimony. Obviously you do not have much experience with the criminal justice system or you would know Rogers had a great case considering the scum he had to work with. Now you need to settle down and rethink the issues hear and gain your composure before someone takes all of your bingo money.
With the justice system in this State anything is posible.Nevada is stuck in the old ways of the West Guilty until proven innocent I am not saying whether or not she is guilty or innocent Truely she only knows.But according to the past ruling she was found innocent of murder.She remained guilty of theft and she served her time.
Was the theft considered a felony or a misdermeanor that is the question and if it was a felony then her status should not change in the justice system.One thing I will say to her goodluck most likley she will lose due to the fact only because she has already won an acquital and those who prosecuted looked like fools and will not stand for the right thing reguardless.
I am not saying Ms. Murphy didn't do the crime. I am saying that the prosecution did not even come close to proving it beyond a reasonable doubt, despite all the help it got from Judge ("I'm a TV star") Bonaventure. David Roger and David Wall looked like fools. The lying, corrupt private investigator was a laughing stock.
Certainly Ms. Murphy and Mr. Tabish are not nice people. I would not want either one at my home. But the fact that this case was even brought to trial with such flimsy "evidence" speaks volumes about how controlled our little DA is by the casino industry. Here's more about ridiculous decisions made by Mr. Roger, if you really need it to recognize the foul stench of corruption in the DA's office: http://www.thebeargrowls.com/?p=602
While it feels beyond wrong for me to come to Dave Roger's defense on anything, Ms. Murphy's prosecution originally occurred on Stu Bell's watch as DA, not his. After the remand by the NV Supremes, I doubt any prosecutor's office in the country would have chosen not to retry her and Mr. Tabish given the prominence of the victim and the media attention paid to the case.
You Reap what you Sow
this includes all the Binions as well as Sandy Murphy---they are and (were)all liars, cheaters,
law breakers in one way or another---
but for Sandy STILL tryin to get money is ludicrous...
Sandy Murphy has THE BALLS the size of the Nevada desert to dare to file this idiotic lawsuit. What Ted brought upon himself, his actions, his addictions are one thing...........
But, Sandy (and Rick Tabish) GOT AWAY WITH MURDER, as if she herself put the figurative gun in Ted's hands. Would Ted have been responsible for his own demise via overdose? It's definitely possible, addiction is a horrible disease and it kills many. But every fiber of my being, every thought I've ever formed and every book/interview/news story I've read, (along with the drugs in Ted Binion's belly) tell me different. He did not die by his own hand....he had help! Sandy Murphy should be praising God daily she's not rotting in a jail cell, not drawing attention to herself with this bull$hit lawsuit!