Judge approves trial for mentally ill man

FAIRBANKS - A judge has ruled that a mentally ill Alaska man can stand trial on murder and assault charges in a fatal stabbing.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported that a Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that 53-year-old Brian Galbraith can stand trial in the 2007 death of 32-year-old Genine Holznagel-Leary.

Galbraith suffers from schizophrenia. He is accused of stabbing Holznagel-Leary in the back and cutting her throat after she went to speak with him about a threatening statement he had reportedly made.

Holznagel-Leary worked at a mental heath housing facility next door to another mental health facility where Galbraith lived.

Judge Robert Downes said Galbraith has undergone an "unpredictable and amazing recovery" after a history of making delusional statements.