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LAS VEGAS (AP) — An arraignment was postponed Monday for a federal and state ex-convict held in what Las Vegas police called a double homicide last month southeast of downtown.
Marcial Casarez appeared with defense attorney Tony Abbatangelo before a Las Vegas justice of the peace who gave him until Wednesday to allow Casarez to hire him or another lawyer for his defense.
Casarez, 36, said nothing in court. He's being held at the Clark County jail following his arrest last week on murder charges in the Nov. 16 slayings of Jamel Colbert, 32, and his girlfriend, Shelby Taylor Robinson, 21.
Abbatangelo said he plans to plead not guilty.
Colbert and Robinson were each shot multiple times, according to the Clark County coroner. Police said Colbert was found on Ballard Drive and Robinson was found minutes later in a vehicle on Fremont Street.
Police identified the victims as a couple and said the slayings were linked. A motive wasn't immediately disclosed.
Court records show that Casarez has served at least three prison terms in Nevada since 2004 for crimes including attempted burglary, receiving stolen vehicles and methamphetamine possession for sale.
He pleaded guilty in January 2010 in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and records show he had been sought since Aug. 16 as a federal fugitive.
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