Man on trial in fatal shooting
A trial started Wednesday in District Court for a 21-year-old wheelchair-bound man accused of killing another man after the two fought at a Las Vegas park in 2006.
On trial is Keith Curie, an emaciated-looking man who became a paraplegic at 13 after he broke his back in a vehicle accident.
Authorities said he got into a fight with 20-year-old Andrew "Keith" Taylor and another man, Greg Isaacs. Curie followed them in his vehicle and shot and killed Taylor in front of the Mira Vista community near Durango Drive and Cheyenne Avenue.
Curie's attorney, Dayvid Figler, said Curie was merely defending himself from bullies when he shot Taylor. He described Curie, who weighed about 100 pounds at the time of the incident, as "fragile, fearful."
"Sometimes bullying has its consequences," Figler said.
The case began in late October 2006, when Taylor and Isaacs, both from Kentucky, were drinking in a park off Gowan Road with a group of people, including Curie. At the park, Curie remained in a Dodge Stratus specially equipped for disabled drivers.
Figler said Isaacs climbed into Curie's car and Curie told him to quiet down because they were in a residential area. The two started shouting and Isaacs hit him, Figler said.
During a preliminary hearing, Isaacs testified that he slapped Curie after the defendant pulled out a small pistol.
While fighting inside the car, Taylor reached in and tried to pull Curie out, Figler said.
The fight broke up and Taylor and Isaacs left. Deputy District Attorney Brett Keeler told the jury that after the fight, Curie followed the two men, pulled out a gun and shot Taylor in the heart.
After the shooting, Curie left the scene and went home. He reported the incident to police between 10 to 15 hours afterward.
Curie is out of custody on $25,000 bail. The trial is expected to resume today.
Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
