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Appeal: Dave, not David, shot clerk

Monday, March 6, 2000 | 11:23 a.m.

A man convicted nearly 14 years ago of murdering a convenience store clerk now claims one of his alter egos pulled the trigger.

David Pellegrini, who is on death row, appeared before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle Friday to ask for a hearing to allow expert witnesses to testify about disassociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

At least one of the experts also would testify that Pellegrini seems to have the disorder and showed symptoms of it at the time of the murder, defense attorney Patricia Erickson said.

Pelligrini was convicted in the killing of 7-Eleven clerkBarry Hancock on Oct. 25, 1986.

Erickson said that after looking at Pelligrini's medical history and after talking to acquaintances and family members, psychologists say it appears that Pelligrini has more than one personality.

"They found symptoms back then, but only half the picture was being seen," Erickson said. "They didn't put it all together."

It seems as though "Dave" and not "David" pulled the trigger, Erickson said.

"If Dave committed the crime, then David Pelligrini is not guilty of capital murder," Erickson said.

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