Friday, June 19, 2015 | 10:31 a.m.
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death penalty for James Chappell, who was mistakenly released from prison in Las Vegas and then raped and stabbed to death his ex-girlfriend, who was the mother of his three children.
Chappell maintained that his defense attorney at the penalty hearing had failed to properly prepare witnesses and that the prosecution made errors that merited overturning of the death penalty.
He was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and sexual assault in the death of Deborah Panos in August 1995. His first death sentence was overturned by a District Court judge. A second penalty hearing delivered the same death penalty.
Chappell, according to court records, was erroneously released by officers from prison, where he was serving a term for domestic battery. He went to Panos’ home, climbed through a window and attacked her, according to court records.
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