High court delays Strohmeyer trial two weeks

The Nevada Supreme Court on Wednesday delayed the trial of 19-year-old Jeremy Strohmeyer two weeks, saying his attorneys need more time to examine evidence taken from the teen's computer.

The trial was scheduled to begin on Monday.

Strohmeyer of Long Beach, Calif., is accused of the May 25, 1997, sexual assault and murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson in a women's restroom of the Primm Valley Hotel in Primm, 43 miles southwest of Las Vegas. The second-grader's body was found propped up on a toilet with her feet dangling in the water.

On Tuesday, defense attorneys Richard Wright and Leslie Abramson argued in District Court that they were not prepared for Monday's trial because of the Nevada Supreme Court's ruling Friday that the jury can see the contents of Strohmeyer's computer. The court reversed an earlier decision by the original trial judge that the information was not legally admissible.

But District Judge Myron Leavitt refused to delay the trial even though Abramson indicated she would file an emergency motion with the Nevada Supreme Court to stay the trial if Leavitt did not postpone it.

Prosecutors contend the defense has had ample time to view the disks and computer files that apparently contain hundreds of pictures of child pornography and Strohmeyer's correspondence in an Internet chatroom.

" ... fairness demands that respondent (Strohmeyer) should have adequate time to examine and review the evidence that was previously subject to the District Court's suppression order," the high court said.

The court also ordered that all evidence, including the computer, be made available to the defense and its experts.

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