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Too Mentally Ill?

By Chris Taylor

Mayfield, KY – Graves Circuit Judge Tim Stark could decide next week whether a Mayfield man accused of killing his father over six years ago was too mentally ill to make an informed decision about talking to police. Derek Keeling's attorney is asking Stark to suppress any statements his client made to investigators, saying he's schizophrenic and was not thinking rationally. He's also charged with attempted murder for stabbing a man in his yard only two days before the death of his father. Keeling supposedly told police that incident was practice for killing his father. Since 2004, mental health professionals have differed on whether Keeling is competent to stand trial. The Paducah Sun reports his trial is set for May 4.