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Friday, September 17, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Convicted murderer's mom to testify in penalty hearing
Willena Warren, jailed since attacking her son's attorney, tells a judge that she will behave in court.
By Peter O'Connell
Review-Journal
A woman jailed for a courtroom attack on her son's attorney will testify today before the jury that soon will ponder whether her son should be sentenced to death.
Willena "Maria" Warren has been in custody since Tuesday, when she slugged attorney Lew Wolfbrandt minutes after her son, Terrell Young, was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder.
District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski on Thursday sought assurances that Warren will make no more outbursts when she is called to the stand this morning. Warren assured the judge she will behave.
"I just needed to sock him that one time. I'm finished," said Warren, who was brought to court in the blue jumpsuit that marks her as an inmate in the Clark County Detention Center.
Warren is scheduled to appear this morning for her initial arraignment before Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo. According to court records, she is charged with intimidating a public officer and contempt of court.
The incident occurred late Tuesday afternoon, when Warren arrived in court minutes after the jury had returned its verdict and departed.
Wolfbrandt, who was not injured and does not want to press charges, walked to the rear of the courtroom to tell her what had happened.
The woman commenced shrieking and cursing, and punched the attorney several times. She then struggled with the bailiffs who tried to restrain her.
Young, 20, and two other men were charged in an Aug. 14, 1998, robbery at 4825 Terra Linda Ave. in which four young men were bound with duct tape and shot once each in the back of the head.
Killed were Matthew Mowen, 19, Jeffrey Biddle, 19, Tracey Gorringe, 20, and Peter Talamantez, 17.
Sikia Smith was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in July. Donte Johnson, suspected of being the triggerman, faces a capital murder trial next year.
On Tuesday, the jury in Young's trial found him guilty on four counts of first-degree murder and related counts of burglary, robbery and conspiracy.
In testimony Thursday, the families of the victims told jurors of the young men who were slain for less than $300, a videocassette recorder, a Nintendo game player and a pager.
Defense attorneys, who say the death penalty is not appropriate in this case, told the judge they plan to call several family members as witnesses today. Also, the defendant plans to make an unsworn statement to the jury.
Warren will testify in civilian clothes, but she will be restrained by handcuffs and leg irons.
In court Thursday, Warren was soft-spoken and polite. She repeatedly asked the judge when she might be released from jail.
Pavlikowski told her the case is before another judge and he had no control over the matter.
Closing arguments in the penalty hearing are scheduled for Monday.
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