But he also says Binion was happy that day, in stark contrast to the defense's claim that he was suicidal. Prosecutors believe the bills, mostly in sequential order, were stolen from Binion, who had obtained them from the bank two days before his death. During a break, defense attorneys sought to prevent the testimony of bail bondsman Dario Costantino, who helped Murphy spring Tabish and Milot from jail a day after their Pahrump arrests. But Bonaventure refused to bar him from the witness stand. Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger told the judge that Murphy's role in the release of Tabish and Milot was further evidence of the murder-theft conspiracy against Binion.
Prosecutors expect to wrap up their case by the end of the week.
Bob Leonard, a partner of Tom Dillard, a Binion estate private detective, was to testify today about his analysis of numerous phone calls made between Murphy, Tabish and other alleged co-conspirators in the months before Binion's death. Dillard, credited with breaking open the murder case, is not on the final list of prosecution witnesses. Jeff German is the Sun's senior investigative reporter. Click here . All contents copyright 2000 and 2001 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.