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Judge: Man fit for trial in Darien triple murder

The man accused of slaying three members of a Darien family last year at a friend’s behest is mentally fit to stand trial, a DuPage County judge ruled Friday.

Citing a forensic psychologist’s report issued in September, Judge Daniel Guerin found 24-year-old Jacob Nodarse of Countryside capable of assisting in his own defense and understanding court proceedings — with medication.

Nodarse attorney Steven “Randy” Rueckert told the judge his client suffers from anxiety, but it should not affect his ability to “meaningfully participate.” The defendant is said to have some history of mental instability, but attorneys on both sides have declined to elaborate.

Nodarse is accused along with co-defendant Johnny Borizov, 29, of Willow Springs, in the March 2, 2010, shooting deaths of Lori and Jeffrey Kramer of Darien and their 20-year-old son Mike. Prosecutors said Borizov told Nodarse to kill the members of his ex-girlfriend’s family as the former couple battled over custody of their infant son.

At a separate court appearance Friday, Borizov’s defense team requested access to a log of Nodarse’s visitors at the county jail, and any recordings of conversations between Nodarse and either prosecutors or fellow inmates.

Guerin gave the defense access to the log. But prosecutors said they were unsure if any recordings of Nodarse from within the jail existed, or whether he will even be called as a witness in Borizov’s case.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Muntz called the requests “nothing more than a fishing expedition.”

Both Borizov and Nodarse have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody without bond. They return to court April 14 and April 26, respectively.

Johnny Borizov