Saturday, June 05, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Murphy's lead attorney withdraws in Binion slaying retrial

Sandy Murphy stands beside attorney Dick DeGuerin at a Dec. 22 court hearing where she was granted bail. Photo by Clint Karlsen.

Sandy Murphy's lead attorney withdrew from the Ted Binion murder case Friday.

Houston attorney Dick DeGuerin made the surprise announcement during a morning hearing before District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

DeGuerin, an acclaimed defense attorney who most recently won the acquittal of wealthy murder suspect Robert Durst, said he was withdrawing from Murphy's case because nonlawyers are trying to control the defense strategy.

"Essentially it was, 'I'm not comfortable being told what to do by a nonlawyer,' " Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas said of DeGuerin's comments in court.

Daskas said DeGuerin did not specify to whom he was referring. DeGuerin was on a flight to Texas on Friday and could not be reached for comment.

Businessman William Fuller has funded Murphy's defense in the death of Binion, a former casino executive with whom Murphy lived.

Las Vegas attorney Michael Cristalli already was participating in Murphy's defense. Now, he will be responsible for defending her against accusations she conspired with her lover, Rick Tabish, to kill Binion in September 1998.

"I'm excited about the case," Cristalli said. "I'm looking forward to winning it, because Sandy is not guilty."

Cristalli said he could not discuss DeGuerin's reason for withdrawing.

Of DeGuerin's decision, Daskas said: "We were surprised by it, and we're happy to try the case against whomever Sandy Murphy hires."

Binion was found dead at the Palomino Lane home he shared with Murphy.

Authorities say Tabish and Murphy killed Binion to steal his millions, alleging he was forced to ingest a cocktail of drugs and suffocated at his home; defense attorneys have said the millionaire died of a heroin overdose.

Tabish and Murphy were convicted of murder in 2000, but the convictions were overturned by the Nevada Supreme Court last year.

DeGuerin's reputation as a trial attorney is extensive. He was a lead attorney for U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in 1994, when Hutchison fended off accusations she abused her powers as Texas state treasurer. DeGuerin represented David Koresh during the standoff in Waco.

He most recently helped secure an acquittal of Durst, a millionaire charged with killing and dismembering a man in Galveston, Texas.

Also in court Friday, Las Vegas attorney Tony Sgro withdrew as one of Tabish's defense attorneys. Tabish is still represented by J. Tony Serra.

Sgro cited scheduling conflicts as a reason, saying he must devote more time to clients who retained him before Tabish.