Christian Brando’s Murder Trial Set for Jan. 14

Christian Brando, son of actor Marlon Brando, was ordered Tuesday to stand trial Jan. 14 on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his half sister’s Tahitian lover.

Superior Court Judge Robert Thomas set the trial date during a hearing in Santa Monica that had been postponed from last week because of a miscommunication among lawyers that resulted in Christian’s absence from the courtroom. Christian, 32, appeared in court Tuesday, along with his half brother, Miko.

Prosecutors said they are awaiting the release of a psychiatric report, expected this week, that will conclude whether Christian’s half sister, Cheyenne, 20, is competent to testify.

Both sides agree that Cheyenne’s testimony could determine the outcome of the trial. She told police that several times before the May 16 shooting Christian had spoken of killing her lover, Dag Drollet.