A man accused of murdering his mother and attempting to murder his father will undergo a further psychiatric report to determine whether he was insane at the time.
Max Allen McGowan, 34, was excused from appearing in the High Court at Auckland today for a callover before Justice Timothy Brewer.
His defence counsel said one report had already been completed which concluded McGowan was legally insane.
Justice Brewer said the Crown now needed to have its own psychiatric report completed, and both would then go before a High Court judge for review.
"If having considered the psychiatric evidence and heard submissions from defence counsel and crown counsel, the judge decides that at the time of the incident that the accused was legally insane, then a plea of not guilty on account of insanity can be entered."
McGowan is charged with murdering his mother, June Gainsford McGowan, and attempting to murder his father, Stephen Charles McGowan, in their Titirangi home on September 11.
He was remanded to the custody of the Mason Clinic until a hearing on March 27.