A federal judge in Boise says convicted child-killer Joseph Edward Duncan III is mentally competent to face a death penalty hearing.

Duncan faces the death penalty on three of 10 federal charges related to the 2005 kidnappings of young Dylan and Shasta Groene of Coeur d’Alene and the slaying of Dylan.

Duncan pleaded guilty in that case and in state court to murdering three other members of the children’s family.

The children were kidnapped, sexually abused and tortured for weeks in the remote Montana wilderness. Dylan was killed; Shasta was found with Duncan when he was captured.

Duncan has asked U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge to allow him to represent himself. A hearing on whether that should be allowed is set for Monday.