Killing draws life sentence
A 26-year-old man convicted of helping plan and carry out a 2007 murder was sentenced to life in prison Thursday with the possibility of parole after 42 years.
Demian Dominguez was convicted in September of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, burglary, and three counts of conspiracy in connection with the death of Mark Friedman.
Authorities say Dominguez, in concert with Friedman's business partner, Lilani Tomines, and with the help of two other men including his brother, bludgeoned and stabbed Friedman multiple times inside his home near Bermuda Road and Windmill Lane on Jan. 30, 2007. Friedman died several days later at a local hospital.
At the time of the incident Tomines told Las Vegas police that she was at the home, but asleep during what she said was a home invasion robbery. She tried to convince detectives that Friedman was followed home by robbers who stormed in and attacked him, according to court records.
But there were no signs of forced entry and police did not believe Tomines' story.
Instead, detectives discovered that Tomines owed Friedman upward of $200,000. Police also learned that on the days leading up to and including when Friedman was attacked, Tomines made numerous cell phone calls to Dominguez.
Police later developed Dominguez' brother, Ivan, as a suspect in the case. Ivan Dominguez, 23, first told police he had only driven his brother to the home of the incident. But after detectives matched his fingerprints to those found in Friedman's home, Ivan Dominguez said he also participated in the attack with his brother, according to his arrest report.
The brothers were arrested earlier this year.
Tomines pleaded guilty in June to first-degree murder and theft. She was recently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
Ivan Dominguez' trial is pending.
A fourth suspect has not been caught.
On Thursday, Demien Dominguez through an interpreter told District Judge Valorie Vega that he is innocent and wants to appeal his conviction.
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
