KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasTabish to Stay in Prison

(May 7) -- It was a disappointing day for murder suspect, Rick Tabish, as a judge denied a motion that would reduce his prison sentence.

Tabish and his ex-girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, had their convictions overturned last year, for the murder of casino mogul Ted Binion.

Murphy was released from prison last December as she awaits her new trial. But Tabish is still serving time for separate convictions involving the extortion of a former business partner, Leo Casey.

On Friday, Tabish's legal team argued that Tabish's accomplices in the extortion case did not serve as much time in prison as Tabish and that was unfair. The judge did not grant the motion.

"We we're hoping to take him home, at least Monday. Take him and bring him home and unite him with his kids and everything. Sure, it's discouraging, it's very discouraging," said Frank Tabish, Rick Tabish's father.

Tabish's attorney says his client could get out of prison on the extortion counts in Oct. of 2005 if he avoids conviction in the new Ted Binion murder trial. That trial is set for this Oct.