Nykhona Holiday, the 20‑year‑old charged with murder in a fatal beating at Veterans Park, appeared in District Court Thursday morning but did not enter a plea.
Her attorney, Stephen Singer, told the court the defense recently submitted new materials that prosecutors may need time to review.
The case stems from a homicide at Veterans Park last August near the Cortez Welcome Center where authorities found Curtis Benally, 40, dead from blunt‑force trauma to the head. Bilbert Tsosie, 61, and Anthony Hill, 56, were also badly beaten and transported to the hospital.
Responding officers testified in prior hearings that they found the men unconscious with severe wounds to the face and large amounts of blood at the park.
Both Robert Salt and Holiday face charges of first‑degree murder and first‑degree assault in connection with the attacks.
“I also submitted a fairly lengthy legal memo regarding the case, which I also assume the state needs to review,” Singer said Thursday.
Prosecutors said they had only recently received the materials.
“We just got the mitigation report two days ago,” Assistant District Attorney Justin Pierce told the court. He added that relatives of Curtis Benally were present in the courtroom and had expressed frustration with delays.
District Court Judge William Furse said the court aims to move cases forward quickly while ensuring they are fair.
“I share a desire for cases of this type to move expeditiously yet fairly,” Furse said. “Sometimes, however, when speed is prioritized over fairness, we have cases come back on appeal, which is a very frustrating thing for both sides of the aisle.”
The judge then asked whether any victims’ families would be speaking in court Thursday.
“Initially, they said they wanted to speak. I think they’ve changed their mind. They’re potentially going to speak on a different matter at a different date,” Pierce said.
Some parts of the prosecution’s theory emerged during a Feb. 6 preliminary hearing for Salt, where prosecutors argued he instigated and carried out the assaults while Holiday was present.
The hearing was meant to determine whether the state had enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. A judge ruled there was sufficient evidence for Salt’s charges to move forward, and Holiday previously waived her right to a preliminary hearing.
Salt’s hearing involved testimony from law enforcement officers who described arriving at the scene Aug. 20 and how the investigation unfolded. Prosecutors pointed to Holiday’s statements during an interview alleging Salt’s conduct, witness accounts that he told her, “this is what we do,” and video showing the pair together before and after the assaults.
A detective testified Holiday agreed to tell him everything during an interview after learning one of the men had died.
“Nykhona appeared visibly upset upon learning this information … Nykhona stated that Robert coerced her into participating in the assaults by threatening her life,” wrote Detective Charles Osborn in the complaint.
According to charging documents, Holiday admitted to kicking each of the three men multiple times and described Salt as highly intoxicated while repeatedly threatening her and other people.
Singer said Thursday the defense and prosecutors are continuing discussions.
“I don’t have any objection if the court wants to set the case for an arraignment while we continue plea negotiations,” he said.
The defense also submitted a mitigation report, a document that typically outlines a person’s background and history, provides character references and is often used during plea negotiations or sentencing to humanize the person.
Furse set the case for a plea hearing May 7 at 9 a.m.
awatson@the‑journal.com
