Magic Valley Woman Could Face Death Penalty in Hatchet Murder

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A prosecutor says an Idaho woman and her brother from California may face the death penalty in the hatchet death of the woman's husband this week in Las Vegas.

Prosecutor Frank Coumou said Thursday that a capital punishment decision will be made later. Maria Olga Hernandez and Hector Trinidad Gutierrez face murder and conspiracy charges in the late Monday slaying of 43-year-old Enrique Gil Hernandez outside a vehicle several miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman appointed a public defender to Hernandez's case and a lawyer to represent Gutierrez, and scheduled another hearing Friday with attorneys present.

Maria Hernandez is also referred to in documents as Maria Gutierrez. Police say she may have held her husband's arms while Hector Gutierrez killed him.