Man pleads innocent in brother's death

PROVO — A man accused of fatally shooting his brother pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a first-degree felony murder charge.

Police say Eryk Drej, 32, shot his brother, Lukasz Drej, more than 10 times in the driveway of their American Fork home last June.

Drej told police he killed Lukasz Drej to prevent him from killing a woman and selling her organs on the black market, according to police reports.

Drej was twice declared mentally unfit to proceed with the case but is now deemed competent to stand trial. He has been treated for schizophrenia at the Utah State Hospital.

Although Drej is able to proceed with his case, his attorney, Tom Means, a lawyer with the Utah County Public Defender Association, said he will focus his legal argument on the fact that Drej might not have been fully competent at the time of the shooting.

If Drej is found mentally incompetent based on his behavior and attitude in June 2005, there's a possibility the seriousness of the charge could be reduced, Means said.

The case will be in court again on Sept. 6, allowing Means time to prepare a mental-health defense and get the necessary evaluations for his client.