Hearing Ordered to Determine Competency of Accused Murderer

A judge has found a 73-year-old Sparks man competent to stand trial for murder in the fatal shooting of an unarmed trespasser the former school teacher insists was justified under Nevada's "stand your ground" law.

 

Lawyers for both sides said Wednesday they accept the findings of two court-ordered psychiatric evaluations that concluded Wayne Burgarello understands the charges and can assist in his own defense.

 

He's accused of killing a 34-year-old man and seriously wounding a woman he found inside a vacant home he owns just east of Reno.

 

Washoe District Court Judge Patrick Flanagan set a hearing for Aug. 20 to reconsider lowering Burgarello's bail currently set at $2 million.  (AP)