A judge has delayed a preliminary hearing for a Salinas man accused of killing his mother and leaving her body in San Benito County, citing the defendant’s erratic behavior and his attorney’s need to review new evidence in the case.
Noting an earlier incident at the jail and an outburst in the courtroom, Judge Mark Hood last week ordered a mental health evaluation for Christopher Sorenson, 29.
His preliminary hearing has been continued for two weeks at the request of assistant public defender Don Landis.
Sorenson is charged with killing his 71-year-old mother, Janet “Nene” Sorenson, who was last seen alive Dec. 7. Her body was discovered Saturday by a San Benito County man on his property on Highway 129, less than a mile off Highway 101 on the west side of the road. Sorenson, who has a history of mental illness, was arrested Dec. 16 based on blood found in her Atherton home after she was reported missing.
As the defendant was awaiting transport to court Thursday, he stood up suddenly, knocking over an inmate, who required medical treatment for injuries suffered in the fall. Sorenson was charged with one count of battery for the incident.
