PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- A judge ordered a man accused of murdering his mother to undergo an emergency mental health evaluation. Andrew Leighton was scheduled to change his plea to guilty Tuesday, but before the hearing began, the judge ordered the evaluation.
Leighton, 48, had previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder in May 2013 for the death of his mother, Shirley Leighton of Falmouth.
The Portland Press Herald reports that Leighton's attorneys met with Leighton in private Tuesday, then returned to the courtroom to speak with with Assistant Attorney General Leane Zainea, who is prosecuting the case. The lawyers then left the courtroom again to speak with Superior Court Justice Thomas Warren behind closed doors.
Attorneys would not give details of the closed door talks, but Leighton's attorneys did confirm that judge decided to have their client evaluated.
Leighton's trial was scheduled to start Jan. 12 before the lawyers reached a plea agreement. The attorneys also declined to comment on the terms of the plea agreement.
Police have accused Leighton of shooting his mother just before she and his father, Thomas Leighton, were going to have him committed for mental health treatment.
