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News / Northwest

Puerto Rican faces trial for fire that killed 6

The Columbian
Published: June 16, 2011, 5:00pm

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A man in Puerto Rico will be tried on charges that he set several of his relatives on fire on New Year’s Day.

Justino Sanchez Diaz is scheduled to appear in court on Friday as jury selection begins.

A government psychiatrist has determined that he is fit to stand trial on six counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

Police have accused Sanchez of dousing family members with gasoline when they sat down for dinner and setting them on fire.

Among the six dead are the suspect’s elderly mother; a nephew, Jesus Sanchez; and Seattle resident Kate Donahue, recently engaged to Jesus Sanchez.

The fire occurred at the house of the suspect’s parents in the northern mountain town of Florida.

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