Wednesday, May 19, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court has denied the appeals of two Las Vegas killers sentenced to death for separate murders.
The court rejected the petition of Donald W. Sherman, convicted of the beating death of Dr. Lester Bauer, the father of Sherman’s girlfriend, Dianne Bauer.
Dianne Bauer and Sherman had a tumultuous relationship, according to the court, and Dianne Bauer feared for the life of her father. The body of her father was found in his home on June 1, 1994.
In denying Sherman’s appeal, the court said he waited six years before filing his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. That is past the deadline. Sherman blames his attorney.
He says he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the killing.
He says he has developed a program in prison to teach illiterate inmates how to read. He also has sponsored an anti-rape program focused on protecting new, young inmates from older, stronger prisoners.
The court said the record shows Sherman killed a grocery store owner when he was 17 years old and noted his penchant for violence in upholding the death penalty.
Sherman, 46, is incarcerated at the state prison in Ely.
In the other case, the court denied a rehearing for James R. Walker, sentenced to death for killing Christine Anziano, 33, in August 2003 outside a Las Vegas drugstore.
Walker also was convicted of five other charges for crimes committed against two other people within 24 hours of Anziano’s death, including slitting one man’s throat.
The court rejected his argument that improper evidence was introduced at the trial. The court in March rejected his appeal on a 4-3 vote and has now refused to reconsider its earlier decision.
Walker, 54, is also at the state prison in Ely.
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