Virginia ? A judge ruled Friday that a former law school student is mentally competent to stand trial on charges of fatally shooting his former dean, a professor and another student.

Peter Odighizuwa, who has been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic, has become less guarded and more affable in the 19 months since he was arrested, said psychologist Greg Wolbur. Wolbur met with Odighizuwa four times this year and recommended that he could face charges.

Police say Odighizuwa, 45, opened fire at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy on Jan. 16, 2002, killing L. Anthony Sutin, Thomas Blackwell and Angela Dales.