Two face trial in couple’s deaths

Two best friends accused of conspiring and killing one of the friends' parents will stand trial on murder charges.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Eric Goodman ruled Tuesday that prosecutors had enough evidence to send to trial Timothy Chester and Victor Veliz. They are charged with two counts each of murder with a deadly weapon, and one count each of conspiracy, burglary and robbery with a deadly weapon.

The two 18-year-olds are accused of the Sept. 30 killings of Thomas and Carla Chester.

In court Tuesday, prosecutors attempted to paint Timothy Chester as a lazy, selfish, high school dropout who got angry with his parents when they asked him to help out around the house.

Defense attorneys suggested that Thomas Chester was an alcoholic who often yelled and Carla Chester was an overbearing mother who once struck her son with a cane.

Timothy Chester's sister, Amanda Hewitt, described on the stand finding her slain parents at their east valley mobile home.

Hewitt said her father was on the floor, and her mother was on the couch with a knife sticking out of her neck.

Thomas Chester suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and his wife suffered from several stab wounds and blunt force trauma, a Las Vegas police detective testified.

Authorities said Timothy Chester plotted the deaths and Veliz carried out the killings.

Hewitt, who used her sweater to wipe tears from her eyes as she testified, told Goodman her parents did not physically, sexually or emotionally abuse their son.

Hewitt and her brother avoided looking at each other during the testimony. Timothy Chester sat slouched at the defense table, looking down and letting his shoulder length hair cover his face.

Hewitt testified that her brother would get upset with his physically handicapped mother when she asked him to take care of the dog or do the dishes.

"Why don't you do it your (expletive) self," Hewitt said her brother would say to his mother.

Carla Chester suffered from several medical conditions, including diabetes, and she didn't have kneecaps, making her rely on a cane or walker to move around.

Hewitt acknowledged her father was someone who drank often.

Hewitt also testified that while the family lived in Michigan, child welfare officials had investigated an allegation of abuse made by Timothy Chester when the two siblings were in elementary school.

Hewitt's husband, Justin, testified that Timothy Chester had gotten into a fight with his parents months before the slayings, pushing his mother to the ground and attempting to strangle his father.

Justin Hewitt said police were not called after that incident at the behest of Thomas Chester.

An initial arraignment before District Court Judge Donald Mosley was set for Dec. 2.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@review journal.com or 702-380-1039.