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Trial of man charged in Alexandria slayings moved to Fairfax

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A judge has granted a change in venue for the trial of a Virginia man in the shooting deaths of three Alexandria residents over a 10-year span.

Judge Jane Roush on Thursday ordered the trial for 54-year-old Charles Severance of Ashburn be moved from Alexandria to Fairfax County. Defense attorneys argued for the change citing concerns that press coverage will make it difficult to select an impartial jury.

Earlier this year, Roush found Severance competent to stand trial for murder in the deaths of city residents Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby and Ruthanne Lodato. All three were shot in their homes: Dunning in 2003, Kirby in 2013 and Lodato last year.

Severance is a former Alexandria resident with a history of bizarre behavior as a fringe candidate for political office.

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