The man accused of killing three people in Scotland in early November has pled not guilty by reason of insanity.
41-year-old Francis Lange of Scotland appeared in Bon Homme County Court Tuesday for his arraignment on multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder.
In addition to the murder charges, Lange pled not guilty to two charges of attempted murder, two charges of aggravated assault, and two charges of commission of a felony while armed with a firearm.
Court documents indicate that Lange killed his ex-girlfriend Angela Monclova at her house. He’s also accused of killing Librado Monclova and Diane Akins, along with injuring Vicki Monclova and a 5-year-old girl. Angela and Librado died at the scene while Diane died at the Scotland Hospital.
Lange, in court Tuesday, waived his right to a speedy trial. Judge Cheryle Gering set August 24th of 2022 for a pre-trial hearing in the case. If the case goes to a jury trial, the jury will be picked in the middle of October 2022.
Gehring also set a deadline of February 28th for the South Dakota Attorney General’s office to decide if they want to pursue the death penalty against Lange.
Lange is currently being held on a $2 million cash-only bond.
