Contract killer loses latest appeal in 1983 killing

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, July 28, 2011 | 11:29 a.m.

Contract killer John Oliver Snow has lost his latest appeal to avoid the death penalty for the killing of a Las Vegas nightclub owner.

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled today that District Judge Elissa Cadish "did not err by dismissing Snow's claim that he is actually innocent of the death penalty."

Snow was paid $5,000 for the fatal shooting in 1983 Harry Wham, owner of the Keyboard Lounge.

The money was paid by Wham's wife Peggy, and several others were involved in an effort to take over the successful business. She received a life term without the possibility of parole but was freed by the state Pardons Board because of her deteriorating health condition.

State records show that Joseph Douglas Parker, Peggy Wham's lover, and his brother John David Parker received life terms with the possibility of parole. Joseph Parker has since died and John Parker has been paroled.

Kathy Faltinowski, the daughter of Peggy Wham and John's girlfriend, also received a life term with possibility of parole and has since been released.

Snow has filed three previous petitions. The court, in a unanimous decision written by Chief Justice Michael Douglas, said the petition was rejected because it was successive and filed 23 years after the court denied Snow's first appeal.

Among other things, Snow maintained the district attorney's office withheld evidence at the trial.

Douglas said Snow failed to show good cause for his delay in raising the claims. "The evidence was discovered or disclosed years before Snow filed the instant petition or could have been discovered through reasonable diligence."

The court said Snow failed to show any of the evidence, mostly about testimony of witnesses, would have changed the outcome.