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Woodridge man to stand trial in dad's weed trimmer slaying

A Woodridge man's mental state at the time he allegedly beat his father to death with a weed trimmer will be the focus of his bench trial next month, prosecutors said.

Attorneys on both sides of the case have agreed to independent psychological evaluations finding 22-year-old Yashesh Desai insane during the August 2011 slaying.

In court Thursday, DuPage County Judge Robert Kleeman set Jan. 14 for a trial where much of the evidence is expected to go undisputed by the defense and prosecution. That includes psychiatric findings, as well as reports detailing crime scene evidence and police interviews. Desai waived his right to a jury trial.

The proceedings will be similar to the June trial of Marci Webber, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the Bloomingdale stabbing death of her 4-year-old daughter Maggie. Webber has since been committed to a secure mental health facility where she could legally be held for up to 100 years.

Desai is accused of fatally beating his 47-year-old father Sanjiv in the head with the heavy end of a weed trimmer as the victim slept on a futon inside their home. Prosecutors said he gave a rambling confession that included references to Godzilla and claims his father owed him money.

Initially, Desai was deemed mentally unfit for trial. He was restored to fitness in May after seven months at the state-run Chester Mental Health Center southeast of St. Louis.

Desai, who has been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, has pleaded not guilty.

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