Court: Searcy man fit to stand trial in killing

— A Searcy man charged in the death of a former girlfriend is mentally fit to stand trial.

The Daily Citizen newspaper of Searcy reported that 48-year-old Charles Berry was set for trial June 10 after a state hospital evaluation found he is mentally fit.

Berry has pleaded innocent to second-degree murder in the April 20, 2012, death of 41-year-old Donna Kennedy.

Police say Berry reported the woman's death as a suicide but later said his gun accidentally went off while he was playing with it.

White County Chief Deputy Jeremy Clark has said the shooting did not appear premeditated.

Berry's lawyer, Ellen Rief, asked for an evaluation but did not say why one was necessary. Berry was being held at the sheriff's office in lieu of $200,000 bond.

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