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Stillwater murder suspect yet to enter plea
By PETER COX
pcox@acnpapers.com
The Stillwater man accused of killing his father waived his right to a speedy omnibus hearing Friday.
David Joseph Janisch, 30, is accused of killing his father, Gregg Janisch, 57, a week ago Saturday at his Stillwater home.
David stabbed Gregg in the heart last Saturday evening. David, who is bi-polar, had been civilly committed twice, in 1999 and 2000, and had several incidents of violence, drug use and delusion over the past decade, according to police records, including an incident in 2000, when he locked himself in a bathroom with a knife, threatening his father and police.
Neighbors told the Pioneer Press that Janisch had moved home recently. He'd been enrolled at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus as recently in the spring of 2008.
He faces two counts of second-degree murder.
David waived the time constraints for an omnibus hearing. State law requires an omnibus hearing be held within 28 days of initial charges. An omnibus hearing helps determine what is admissible in terms of evidence and testimony.
Janisch's attorney, Ahren Johnson, from the 10th District Public Defender's Office, asked that the right be waived in order to have time for a doctor hired by Johnson's office do an evaluation of Janisch.
When Judge Gary Schurrer first asked Janisch if he was OK with waiving this right, Janisch said he wasn't.
"No, I'd just like to get this done with as soon as possible," Janisch first said. After a short, quiet discussion with his attorney, he then agreed to waive the time frame for the hearing.
The judge also granted a request from the prosecution to get handprints and a saliva sample from Janisch, in order to match that to evidence taken at the scene.
Janisch did not enter a plea Friday.
The omnibus hearing is set for Jan. 15. He is being held on $1 million bail at the Washington County Jail.
Peter Cox covers crime and the cities of Stillwater and Bayport for the Gazette. He can be reached by phone at 651-796-1108.
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