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Judge Orders Son's Evaluation in Oklahoma Politician's Death

Oklahoma County

 

Judge orders son's evaluation in Oklahoma politician's death 

A judge has ordered a man accused of fatally stabbing his father, Oklahoma's former labor commissioner, to undergo a mental examination to determine if he is competent to plead guilty to first-degree murder.

Christian Costello told Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott Wednesday that he wants to plead guilty in the Aug. 23 death of his father, former Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. Elliott ordered state psychiatrists to examine Costello to determine if he is mentally competent to proceed with the case.

Prosecutors say Christian Costello attacked his father with a knife and repeatedly stabbed him at an Oklahoma City restaurant. Defense attorney Bob Ravitz says he believes Costello is delusional and was legally insane at the time of the attack. Costello's family has said he suffers from a mental illness.