Paraplegic convicted of voluntary manslaughter

A 21-year-old paraplegic was convicted Friday of voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon for fatally shooting another man in October 2006.

The defendant, Keith Currie, also was convicted of discharging a firearm out of a motor vehicle.

"We're relieved that they did not find him guilty of murder," defense attorney Dan Bunin said.

Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction in the case, which stemmed from the slaying of 20-year-old Andrew "Kyle" Taylor.

Currie, who uses a wheelchair, has been on house arrest for the past 2 1/2 years. At the request of prosecutors, District Judge David Barker remanded the defendant to custody after jurors returned their guilty verdicts.

Barker scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 6.

Defense attorney Dayvid Figler said workers at the Clark County Detention Center could not handle Currie's medical issues when he spent time there after his arrest in the case.

"They can't handle him until July," Figler told the judge.

The defense attorney said Currie had no prior record, never missed a court appearance while on house arrest, and is eligible for a sentence of probation.

"Obviously, we're going to fight very hard for probation," Figler said.

The convictions carry a maximum possible sentence of 14 to 35 years in prison.

"I will seek prison time," Deputy District Attorney Brett Keeler said. "I believe when someone is shot you need to seek prison time."

In March, prosecution witness Gregory Isaacs of Kentucky caused a mistrial in the case when he took the witness stand and violated a court order.

Figler sought another mistrial this week after learning that two jurors picked for the new trial were married to each other. Barker denied the request.

Authorities have said Currie had a dispute with Isaacs and Taylor before following them in his vehicle and shooting Taylor outside the Mira Vista community near Durango Drive and Cheyenne Avenue.