* Hearing on evidence in Slater case set Oct. 23

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

(1:30 p.m.) BERRYVILLE -- Justin Shane Slater faces one hearing next month to determine his competency to stand trial on murder charges in two localities.

Slater, 24, of Buffalo Trail, Shawneeland, appeared Monday in Clarke County Circuit Court with one of his attorneys, public defender Tim Coyne. The defendant stands charged in the county with capital murder in relation to the June 10 deaths of ex-girlfriend Kayleigh Marie Plamondon and his brother, Gregory Scott Slater Jr., as well as a related gun charge, credit card theft and breaking and entering a home at night with the intent to commit a felony.

Coyne and Clarke County Commonwealth's Attorney Suzanne "Suni" Perka and Coyne advised Judge John Wetsel Jr. that prosecutors and the defense plan to have one evidentiary hearing on Oct. 23 in Frederick County Circuit Court on whether Slater is competent to stand trial. The hearing before Judge John Prosser also will include Slater's capital murder charge in Frederick County related to the deaths of Plamondon and the defendant's brother.

Investigators discovered Slater's brother dead from a gunshot wound to the head at his home on Valley Mill Road on June 11. Authorities found Plamondon's body in a home in Lost City, W.Va., two days later. Plamondon, 22, of White Post, has been identified by investigators as Slater's ex-girlfriend.

Perka and Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney Glenn Williamson are serving as co-prosecutors in the cases.

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