Ex-police Cadet Acquitted of Murder in Trial of Police Academy Cadet Charles Early
- Charged w/ First Degree Murder, Conspiracy to commit murder, and attempt robbery.
- Disposition: Jury Verdict- Not Guilty
Ex-police cadet acquitted of murder
From Las Vegas Sun | Saturday, July 26th, 1997
“You’ve said all along, this is the day you’ve been waiting for. You’re a free man,” District Judge Don Chairez told Charles Early, 25, after a jury returned its verdict Friday.
Early was a co-defendant with Carl Holmes in the Jan. 6, 1996, slaying of Charles Vespia. Holmes, 22, pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory to murder after the fact and agreed to testify for the prosecution in the case.
Murder trial begins for former police academy cadet
By Pauline Bell | Las Vegas Sun | Friday, July 18, 1997
Defense attorney Louis Palazzo told the panel that evidence will show that Holmes was the killer. He noted that the slaying occurred at the Henderson apartment complex where Holmes was living with his girlfriend and that the last number on Vespia’s beeper was Holmes’ residence.
Early left the apartments before the killing and “was at home minding his own business” when the slaying occurred and “now he finds himself before you,” the defense attorney said. He wouldn’t have sacrificed a promising career for the steroid money, the lawyer added.
“Mr. Early had no involvement in the murder of Mr. Vespia and you will be compelled to return a verdict of not guilty in this case,” Palazzo concluded…
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