LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A man sentenced to death row almost 30 years ago for killing an FBI agent in Las Vegas has a new trial date set.
Jose Echavarria awaits his retrial after he was convicted of first-degree murder back in 1991 during a fatal bank robbery east of the Strip.
According to District Court records, Echavarria has a scheduled readiness status check on Dec. 12 with a jury trial date on Nov. 16, 2020.
The original incident took place in 1990 when FBI agent John Bailey, 47, had gone to a Security Pacific Bank office to serve a subpoena, as reported by the Associated Press.
Upon entering, Bailey came upon a robbery in progress. He drew his weapon, challenged the robber (who displayed a gun), and fired a shot. However, Bailey missed and was then fatally shot.
The 47-year-old later died in surgery at the University Medical Center.
In July 2018, a federal appeals court upheld a judge’s order granting a new trial for Echavarria.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling upheld U.S. District Judge Miranda Du’s decision that said Echavarria received an unfair trial based on allegations of bias against Clark County District Judge Jack Lehman, who has since retired.
