Trials separated for teens facing death penalty in trailer park slayings

By Cara McCoy

Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 | 1:21 p.m.

The two teens facing the death penalty for the September slaying of a Las Vegas couple at an eastern valley mobile home park will be tried separately in Clark County District Court.

Victor Veliz and Timothy Chester, both 18, each are facing two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Chester’s parents, Timothy and Carla Chester. A judge ruled today the two will stand trial separately.

The Chesters were found dead Sept. 30 in their east Las Vegas Valley mobile home. Thomas Chester was shot to death and Carla Chester died from stab wounds and blunt force trauma injuries. A knife was protruding from her neck when her body was found, Metro Police said.

The teens are also facing charges of burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder.

Authorities have said Timothy Chester plotted to kill his family and had his best friend, Veliz, shoot his parents. Timothy Chester had also wanted his sister and brother-in-law dead, a police officer testified at a preliminary hearing in the case, but they weren’t home at the time.

The plan was for Veliz to kill Timothy Chester’s parents and then Timothy Chester would kill Veliz’s family, the officer testified. But as the plan to kill the Chesters unfolded, Veliz decided he didn’t want his family killed, police said.

Veliz stated in jailhouse interviews that Timothy Chester threatened to kill him if he didn't carry out the plan.

At a hearing today in front of District Court Judge Donald Mosley, Veliz’s attorney, Christy Craig-Rohan asked for the trials to be separated. Prosecutors and Chester’s attorneys said they didn’t oppose the motion. In documents, Craig argued that trying the two together would be overly prejudicial.

Further argument was dedicated to Craig-Rohan’s motion to dismiss two of the charges against her client – the robbery and burglary counts.

The original complaint filed in the case charged Timothy Chester with robbery with a deadly weapon after he allegedly stole his parents' vehicle after the slayings. Because the vehicle was stolen as part of the shootings, prosecutors later decided to charge Veliz with the count. Mosley dismissed the robbery count against Veliz today.

Prosecutors said they still intend to seek the death penalty against both teens.

A status check on setting the two trials is scheduled for Feb. 17. A trial date of Dec. 6, 2010, had been set previously. The two trials are expected to run back-to-back, attorneys said today.

Veliz was arrested Sept. 30 at his home after his mother called 911. He told her about the crime immediately afterward and asked her to call police, according to an arrest report.

Timothy Chester was arrested Oct. 1 after he aroused suspicion by walking along U.S. 93 near the Hoover Dam. His parents’ vehicle was found along the Arizona highway.

Both are being held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.