Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 | 4:11 p.m.
Jason Griffith
Statements Jason Griffith, accused of killing Luxor dancer Debora Flores Narvaez, made in a police car on the way to jail can be used as evidence, Clark County District Judge Donald Mosley ruled Thursday.
Griffith, 32, appeared in court for an evidentiary hearing with his court-appointed attorneys Abel Yanez and Jeff Banks.
His attorneys argued that Griffith had invoked his rights to remain silent and have an attorney present during police questioning prior to his arrest.
They said Griffith told detectives, “I don’t have anything else for you,” during questioning and asked for his attorney’s phone number before being transported to the Clark County Detention Center.
As a result, defense attorneys argued, statements Griffith allegedly made to a detective while being transported to the jail should not be permitted as evidence during trial.
According to the arrest report, Griffith told the detective driving him that Flores Narvez’s death was not a “premeditated thing,” but that it happened in the “heat of the moment.”
Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo, however, argued that Griffith never invoked his Miranda rights.
In his ruling, Mosley said Griffith’s alleged statement to detectives of, “I don’t have anything else for you,” could be interpreted as him not having any more to volunteer — not necessarily a statement about his willingness to answer questions.
In addition, Mosley said, Griffith’s request for his attorney’s phone number before transport to the jail seemed more like a logical demand — not an invocation of his rights — given that he would no longer have his cell phone.
“It suggests to me he needs that number for future reference,” Mosley said.
After the judge’s ruling, Banks said the defense was “disappointed but that doesn’t change the fact we will aggressively represent and defend Mr. Griffith on this matter.”
Griffith’s jury trial is set to begin Nov. 28.
Flores Narvez, Griffith’s ex-girlfriend, went missing last December. In January, her body was found dismembered and encased in concrete at a downtown residence.
Police said Griffith’s roommate, Louis Colombo, told them Griffith killed Flores Narvaez and solicited his help disposing of the body.
The Clark County coroner’s office ruled that Flores Narvaez died from asphyxiation due to neck compression.
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