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Vegas man pleads
not guilty in slaying
of Maui woman

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Star-Bulletin staff

A man allegedly linked to the shooting death of Maui resident Heather Vitarelli in Las Vegas is scheduled for trial on June 4 in Clark County District Court in Nevada.

Michael Frimmel, 32, pleaded not guilty to a number of felony charges yesterday, including murder with the use of a deadly weapon.

Frimmel was extradited from New Jersey to Nevada last week, after several months of legal challenges.

He is being held without bail.

Also charged in the Sept. 8, 2000 incident at Harrah's casino is Stephen Mullen.

Mullen, 32, is accused of firing a gun in a struggle with security guards that wounded one of the guards.

Detectives say a stray bullet struck Vitarelli, who was vacationing with friends, as she walked through the casino about 25 to 40 feet away from the struggle.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Mullen but not against Frimmel.

Mullen's trial has been scheduled for Sept. 10.