State Supreme Court upholds death sentence in Las Vegas slaying

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | 9:01 p.m.

CARSON CITY - A 54-year-old man sentenced to death for stabbing a woman to death has lost his appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

The court rejected the appeal of James R. Walker, who was found guilty of six offenses, including the slaying of Christine Anziano, 33, as she was leaving a drug store in Las Vegas in August 2003

The seven justices voted to uphold the conviction of Walker, but three said he should have a new penalty hearing because of the “inflammatory and improper comments” of the District Attorney’s Office.

After killing Anziano, Walker slit the throat of Kirk Cole and took his money.

Walker’s girlfriend Myrdus Archie, 57, assisted him in the crimes and is serving a life term as a habitual criminal.

Several hours before the Anziano murder, Walker approached 17-year-old Susan Simon, who was sitting in a car, and stole her purse.

The court rejected arguments by Walker that the death penalty is unconstitutional and said there was nothing to show the jury reached its verdict under the influence of passion or prejudice.

The majority said the death penalty was not excessive, considering the viciousness of the murder and Walker’s violent history. He had seven prior felony convictions and served 22 years in prison.

Justices Michael Cherry, Michael Douglas and Nancy Saitta said Walker should receive a new penalty hearing because of comments by the prosecutor, who argued that if jurors did not impose the death penalty, they would feel responsible if Walker harmed another person.

“This comment far exceeded the bounds of proper argument,” the three justices said.

The majority said a prosecutor may not exhort the jury to return a death penalty or take responsibility for the death of a future victim. But it concluded that the comment was brief and the evidence was compelling to support the death penalty.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or [email protected].