Tabish's attorney moves to block testimony

A lawyer for a man accused of stealing a fortune in silver from the late Ted Binion went to court today to block the suspect's testimony Thursday about assets missing from Binion's estate.

Attorney Louis Palazzo has previously argued that his client, Rick Tabish, is concerned his testimony could be used against him in a police investigation into Binion's Sept. 17 death.

Binion's girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, is expected to assert her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination Thursday when called to testify about the missing items in the courtroom of District Judge Michael Cherry.

Following a hearing last week, Cherry refused to block Murphy's testimony.

Both Murphy, 26, and Tabish, 33, a Montana contractor, reportedly have become the focus of a probe by homicide detectives into Binion's death. The two have refused to cooperate with detectives.

Binion's body was discovered on the floor of his 2408 Palomino Lane home next to an empty bottle of the prescription sedative, Xanax. Drug tests later found that Binion had lethal levels of both Xanax and heroin in his system. Though Binion was a heroin user, Clark County Coroner Ron Flud has left open the possibility that the late gaming executive was murdered.

Tabish, a Binion friend, and two other men, Michael Milot and David Mattsen, were arrested in Pahrump Sept. 19 after they allegedly had dug up $4 million in silver bars and coins Binion had buried in an underground vault. Tabish had built the vault for Binion on land in the middle of downtown Pahrump.

All three suspects are free on bail pending criminal charges in the reported theft, which took place less than 36 hours after Binion died.

Nye County sheriff's deputies and Binion's older brother, former Horseshoe Club President Jack Binion, have uncovered evidence that links Tabish romantically with Murphy.

The elder Binion, who oversees his brother's estate, believes Murphy and Tabish either took or know the whereabouts of the missing valuables, which include a $300,000 collection or rare currency.

Last week, the Sun reported that Tabish once secretly sought the help of Ted Binion's sister, Becky Behnen, to work out a deal for him to cooperate with the FBI.

But following a two-hour meeting with Behnen, the current president of the Horseshoe Club, Tabish never contacted the FBI.

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