Ezra Simon-Daniels, 20, of Branchburg, will undergo a second psychological evaluation after being deemed fit to stand trial.
SOMERVILLE - Ezra Simon-Daniels, who has been charged in the deaths of his grandparents, is considering an insanity defense, it was revealed during a second disposition conference in Somerset County Superior Court Friday.
Simon-Daniels, 20, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Feb. 13 deaths of Louis Simon, 78, and Beatrice Simon, 65, in the Branchburg home they shared with him.
Simon-Daniels has undergone a psychological evaluation by Dr. Howard Gilman, a Ridgewood-based psychiatrist, and was deemed competent to stand trial, Somerset County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed said on Friday.
Somerset County releases 9-1-1 call
Reed then informed Simon-Daniels that it's his decision to decide if he wants to enter an insanity plea and urged him to talk it over with his attorney, Todd Hess.
Hess told the judge that he plans to have Simon-Daniels reevaluated by another psychiatrist and then he and his client will decide how they want to proceed.
When asked if he understood the situation, Simon-Daniels told the judge he did.
Afterwards, Hess said he and his client are leaning towards an insanity defense.
Hours following the alleged murders, Simon-Daniels was arrested after making a 9-1-1 call at approximately 5:57 a.m. from the parking lot of a Hunterdon County Walmart.
Simon-Daniels is being held in the Somerset County Jail on on a $2 million bail.
The judge set April 27 as the next court date.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.