During a status hearing Friday, Joseph Chandler was ordered by Judge Jennifer Anderson to report to St. Elizabeths Hospital for a 30 day observation.
Defense attorney Katerina Semyonova was denied a motion to have the observations done at Chandler’s home, arguing complications with Chandler’s recent knee surgery have made it difficult for him to leave his bed.
Judge Anderson granted Chandler a two week waiting period before having to report to St. Elizabeths for his Criminal Responsibility Exam.
Chandler, 73, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to the shooting death of his girlfriend, 63-year-old Shirley Tucker on Dec. 6, 2012.
Court documents say Chandler confessed to police that he shot Tucker and told them he deserved to die.
Chandler has been on release under supervised custody since July of last year.
