Attorneys have started presenting their opening statements in the death penalty trial of Julius Trotter, a 37-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing two Vietnamese tour leaders at a Circus Circus hotel room over six years ago. The trial includes charges of murder with a deadly weapon, burglary with a deadly weapon, and robbery with a deadly weapon, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
According to prosecutors, Trotter allegedly broke into the victims’ hotel room, Sang Nghia and Khuong Nguyen, and fatally stabbed them during a robbery. However, defense attorney Ozzie Fumo claimed that the killings were a “targeted hit,” emphasizing the specific areas where the victims were stabbed.
Nguyen and Nghia were part of a tour group from Ho Chi Minh City to Los Angeles, with a stop in Las Vegas. Testimony from the main tour guide, Tuan Trinh, revealed that Nguyen was gay, and Nghia’s husband was comfortable with her sharing a room with him.
The trial also heard from Trotter’s former girlfriend, Itaska Dean, who testified about their activities before and after the killings. Surveillance footage captured Trotter leaving the hotel and acting suspiciously, which prosecutors used as evidence against him.
Despite evidence linking Trotter to the victims’ belongings, the defense argued that there is not enough proof to convict him of the murders. The trial is set to continue with more testimonies and evidence presented to the jury.
The emotional impact of the tragic incident was evident in the statements made by witnesses, highlighting the devastating consequences of the deaths of Sang Nghia and Khuong Nguyen. The trial will provide further insight into the events leading up to the killings and seek justice for the victims.