Las Vegas Strip shooting suspect appointed new lawyers
Ammar Harris, a self-proclaimed pimp charged in a Strip shooting that left three people dead, has new counsel to represent him in his death penalty case.
District Judge Kathleen Delaney on Wednesday appointed defense lawyers Robert Langford and Thomas Ericsson to represent Harris, after the Special Public Defender’s office withdrew from the case citing an “irreconcilable conflict” with the defendant.
Harris had wanted to stand trial Dec. 2, but it probably will be delayed at a hearing set for next month because new lawyers were appointed in the case.
Harris, 27, is charged in the fatal shooting of reputed pimp Kenneth “Kenny Clutch” Cherry Jr. The two were driving separate vehicles on the Strip early in the morning of Feb. 21 when Cherry was shot, causing him to crash his car into a taxi.
The cab then burst into flames, killing the driver, Michael Boldon, and his passenger, Sandra Sutton-Wasmund of Maple Valley, Wash.
Harris faces nearly a dozen charges stemming from the shooting, including three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of discharging a firearm into a vehicle, five counts of discharging a firearm out of a vehicle and attempted murder.
Harris could face the death penalty if convicted.
Last month, Harris was found guilty of raping and robbing a woman in June 2010. Prosecutors plan to use the convictions as aggravating factors when seeking the death penalty against Harris.
A sentencing hearing is set for Nov. 20.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.
