A man accused of stabbing a woman and her mother more than a year and a half ago was found competent enough to stand trial for his crimes, a judge announced Wednesday.

Christian Alberto Martinez, 21, has been in jail since February 2011, when was arrested in connection with the deaths of Jovana Flores and her mother, Amalia Flores.

Judge Gonzalo Garcia, who is presiding over the case, decided that Martinez will stand trial after Martinez took a psychiatric exam earlier this year.

Martinez's attorney had said his client had psychological issues, but did not specify their nature.
Martinez will face capital murder charges and the death penalty if found guilty. 

As KFOX14 previously reported, Martinez allegedly followed Jovana home after she passed him while jogging.

According to the arrest affidavit on Jan. 28, 2001, investigators said he forced his way into her home in East El Paso off Pratt Avenue where he allegedly stabbed Jovana and her mother Amalia to death and then tried to take his own life. 

Police said they found Martinez in a bedroom with cuts to his arm. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment then arrested and booked in the El Paso County Detention Facility with no bond. 

Investigators have yet to identify a motive for the slayings, but according to the arrest affidavit, Martinez had taken offense after Jovana jogged past him as he was walking to his girlfriend's home who lived a couple of blocks away. The affidavit also states he had told his girlfriend earlier in the day that he had been angry.