Panel to review strangulation case for possible death penalty

By Tiffany Gibson

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | 11:53 a.m.

The district attorney's office's death penalty review committee will meet next week to decide whether a California man accused of murder and sexual assault should be put to death.

Derrick Valentine, 37, of Pasadena, Calif., is facing one charge of murder and two counts of sexual assault in connection with the Jan. 22 death of 35-year-old Melodie Walker, of Las Vegas.

Valentine appeared before Clark County District Court Judge Kevin Williams on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He also waived his right to a speedy trial.

Deputy public defender Edward Kane asked Williams to set a trial date after the death penalty review committee meets March 31. Williams set a status check for 9 a.m. April 7 in front of District Court Judge Jennifer Togliatti.

Valentine was arrested Jan. 22 after a security guard responding to a burglary alarm in the 9100 block of Pearl Cotton Avenue found a woman who had been assaulted.

At first, the alarm company determined the interior garage door had set off the alarm but was unable to contact anyone at the residence by phone, so a company representative was sent to investigate. Shortly after the alarm went off, police received a hang-up phone call from the residence.

When dispatchers called back, a man who identified himself as “Derrick” said everything was fine and police weren’t needed, the arrest report said.

When the security officer arrived, Valentine reportedly told the security officer that everything was fine, but he needed an ambulance. He asked the officer not to call police and said he was alone in the residence, but the officer saw the Walker lying on the floor, not moving, the report said.

The security officer called police. Officers and paramedics responded and transported Walker, who had injuries to her neck, to Centennial Hills Hospital, where she died from her injuries.

The report indicates that Valentine eventually told police he had touched Walker sexually without her consent and began to choke her. She asked if she could get a drink of water, and as she went downstairs she ran into the garage, which triggered the alarm.

Valentine said he then choked her to death to prevent her from contacting police. The report doesn’t indicate if or how Valentine and Walker knew each other or if he had been invited into the home.

Valentine is being held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.