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November 28, 2009

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Trial date set for man accused of killing sister, grandparents

Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 | 9:51 a.m.

A Las Vegas man accused of killing his sister and grandparents had his trial date set on Wednesday despite twice previously being deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Dante Pattison, 23, is now to be tried on Feb. 28 before District Judge Lee Gates.

Pattison allegedly shot his sister, Carrie Adric-Pattison, 32, and their grandparents, Yoshio Kato, 82, and Sally Kato, 75, on Feb. 24, 2001.

Pattison, who looked pale and dazed in court on Wednesday, had twice been ruled incompetent to stand trial after doctors at Lake's Crossing, the state mental hospital in Sparks, diagnosed him with "antisocial personality disorder, adjustment disorder with disturbance of emotion and conduct."

Under Nevada law, people who cannot understand the nature of the charges against them and are unable to help in their own defense are deemed incompetent to stand trial.

Doctors at Lakes Crossing ultimately deemed Pattison competent after daily evaluations made them conclude he had reached a point where he was able to assist counsel in his case, they said.

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