Beavercreek man ruled competent for trial

Pardeep Saini, 32, is accused of shooting and killing his father Onkar Saini on Jan. 9.

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Pardeep Saini, 32, is accused of shooting and killing his father Onkar Saini on Jan. 9.

The Beavercreek man accused of shooting his father to death in January 2012, then given psychotropic medication against his will because of mental issues, has been found competent for trial.

Pardeep Saini, 32, appeared via video in Greene County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday for the second such hearing since his arrest. Being found competent for trial means physicians and the court have determined that Saini can assist his attorneys in his defense.

Trial is set for April 15. Between now and then, Saini will be evaluated at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare in Columbus to determine whether he was sane at the time of the killing on Jan. 9, 2012.

If doctors determine Saini was insane at the time of the slaying, there will be no criminal trial, according to the court.

Onkar Saini, 66, was found shot to death in the bedroom of his home, 2436 Rumford Way, in Beavercreek.

Pardeep Saini had fled and was arrested in West Virginia days after the slaying at the Palace of Gold in Moundsville, where Beavercreek police and West Virginia state police tracked him through the activity on his credit card.

Saini on April 16 pleaded not guilty by reason to the charge of murder.

He was evaluated later at Twin Valley and on June 14 was found incompetent but “restorable,” according to court record.

Judge Stephen Wolaver, assigned to the case, ordered that same month that Saini be involuntarily medicated to make sure he would get a fair trial.