That leaves the minimum age at 16 in Nevada. But the main action was expected Tuesday on the Senate floor, with advocates of a two-year moratorium on capital punishment facing a challenge that could clear the way for Saturday's execution of condemned killer Sebastian Bridges. Senate Judiciary Chairman Mark James, R-Las Vegas, pressed for the moratorium pending an extensive study of the death penalty between now and the 2003 session. McGinness said Monday he was figuring on eight votes from fellow Senate Republicans, of the 11 in the upper house. He's also hoping for a few of the nine Democrats in the Senate to reach the total of 11 needed to push through his plan.
Bridges is in that category.
Jack Finn, Gov. Kenny Guinn's secretary, said Guinn has been advised by his legal counsel that he can stop Bridges' execution - but is monitoring the lawmakers to see what happens with the moratorium plan. Bridges isn't giving interviews, but he had plenty to say earlier about his reasons for refusing to file an appeal or let anyone else appeal on his behalf - even though he would be entitled to an automatic stay. Bridges, who changed his name from Carl Coetzer, even sent word to the South African government to keep out of the case. A spokesman for the South African embassy in Washington, D.C., said Bridges also wants no personal information released to the media. Blatchford was shot in the stomach and died in the desert outside Las Vegas.