Trial under way for man accused in officer's killing

RENO, Nev. -- A man accused in the hatchet slaying of a campus police officer was a cold-blooded killer who came to Reno with the intent to kill a police officer, District Attorney Dick Gammick told jurors on Wednesday.

But a defense lawyer for Siaosi Vanisi suggested someone else may have been responsible for last year's killing of University of Nevada, Reno police Sgt. George Sullivan.

Attorneys made opening statements to the panel of 10-men and six women after Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer rejected defense motions to move the trial to another city or declare a mistrial. Four members of the jury will be delegated as alternates after testimony is complete and before deliberations begin.

The defense had argued that some jurors had preconceived opinions on Vanisi's guilt and that the defense was wrongly denied extra challenges to keep them off the panel.

Steinheimer rejected those claims.

Deputy Public Defender Jeremy Bosler urged jurors to keep an open mind as evidence in the trial is presented in the coming days.

"All I can do is ask you to be fair and consider all the details," Bosler said.

Vanisi, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and one count of grand larceny for a crime spree that prosecutors say began with Sullivan's killing. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

Gammick said that after Vanisi bludgeoning Sullivan with a $7 hatchet purchased at a Wal-Mart store, he robbed two area convenience stores using the .45-caliber, Glock semi-automatic handgun that he took from Sullivan's body.

The killing touched off a manhunt unprecedented in Reno history. Vanisi was arrested the next day at a relatives house in Salt Lake City, following a 3 1/2 -hour standoff with authorities there that ended with tear gas and gunfire.

Gammick said Vanisi's cousin in Salt Lake City would testify for the prosecution and give a "blow-by-blow" description of what happened, as told to him by Vanisi.

"You will find that Mr. Vanisi came to Reno wanting to kill a cop," Gammick said.

He added that Sullivan's weapon, Vanisi's bloody clothing and other recovered evidence would leave no doubt of Vanisi's guilt.

Bosler contended there were some reports of a second person in a vehicle when the convenience stores were robbed. He added that other fingerprints may have been found on Sullivan's weapon, suggesting that someone else may have been involved in the officer's killing.

The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.

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