Posted on: Wednesday, October 17, 2001

Las Vegas slaying case sentencing delayed

Advertiser Staff

The sentencing of a man for the murder of a former Maui resident in Las Vegas last year has been postponed until Oct. 25.

Stephen Mullen Jr., who pleaded guilty earlier, was granted the postponement by Clark County District Judge Michael Cherry yesterday.

Mullen could be sentenced to consecutive life terms with the possibility of parole for murder and attempted murder with a deadly weapon, said court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer.

Mullen was charged with the Sept. 8, 2000 shooting death of Heather Vitarelli, a college student from Napa, Calif., who grew up on Maui, at Harrah's on the Las Vegas Strip.

Vitarelli, 29, was struck in the back by a stray bullet and died at the scene. The gun went off during a struggle between Mullen and a casino security guard, who was shot in the stomach.

Michael Frimmel, who also was charged with murder in the case, has pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary in exchange for the murder count being dismissed.