Showgirl guilty of casino murder

Binion used to store his wealth at Horseshoe Casino

By David Willis in Las Vegas

An Irish-American woman has been found guilty of murdering her multi-millionaire boyfriend at the end of a sensational trial in Las Vegas.

Exotic dancer Sandra Murphy, 28, poisoned casino boss Ted Binion, the court heard, a day after Binion cut her out of his will.

She and her new lover were also found guilty of attempting to steal $7m worth of silver which Binion had hidden in an underground vault in the Nevada desert.

Fifty-five-year-old Binion was one of the richest casino bosses in Las Vegas; his personal fortune exceeded $50m.

Binion's father, Benny, set up one of the first gambling halls in the city and Binion Jr was known to have links to the Mafia.

Unlimited wealth

He met Sandra Murphy in a Vegas nightclub where she was working as an exotic dancer.

The two began a relationship which afforded her unlimited wealth and social standing.

But that relationship soured when Murphy began an affair with a man who was working for Ted Binion; his name was Rick Tabish.

When Binion learned of the affair, he cut Murphy from his will. The next day, he was found dead.

Tabish and Murphy have both been found guilty of murdering Binion and attempting to steal a vast horde of gold and silver which he had buried in the desert.

A few days after his death, Tabish was caught red-handed by police digging in the desert sand.

Saga of lust

This seedy saga of lust, betrayal and greed has captivated popular opinion in a city renowned for its excess.

Several books are being written and there is even talk of a Hollywood film.

As well as suing Ted Binion's relatives for a share of his estate, Sandra Murphy is reported to be looking to sell the rights to her extraordinary story.