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SITKA - Marcy McDannel hasn't decided how to defend Jason Abbott against the evidence and testimony the state will use to argue the 18-year-old Sitka man killed four people and wounded a fifth in his grandparents' home on March 25.

Without understanding more about Abbott's mental health the day he allegedly killed his grandparents and others with a knife, McDannel on Thursday asked Sitka Superior Court Judge David George for more time to respond to the state's motion that he undergo psychiatric examinations. More time is needed to understand Abbott, she said.

"It's premature," she said.

A grand jury charged Abbott with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder shortly after police arrested him on his grandparents' stoop as family members lay dying and dead from multiple stab wounds in the house and on the lawn.

Days before the murders, Abbott was arrested on a charge of assaulting his mother. Sitka police said Abbott woke his family at 4 a.m. upset about an orange sign in the home. A family member said Abbott thought the colors red and orange were evil, police said.

George granted McDannel's request and said it gave time to "intelligently respond."

District Attorney Doug Gardner filed the request in late April after hearing that Abbott told a prison visitor he would use insanity as a defense. Gardner said that through the media McDannel suggested to all of Southeast Alaska that Abbott's mental state would play a role in the defense.

McDannel speaks openly about Abbott being mentally ill. Thursday she said Abbott was in "treatment" and has shown "vast improvement."

If the state's motion is granted, or McDannel decides to use insanity as a defense, Abbott would be subject to examination by at least two forensic psychiatrists. The state would have access to the test results and an opinion on Abbott's ability to knowingly defend himself.

A court-appointed team should perform the exam before various parties bring in their own experts for evaluations, Gardner said.

Abbott waived his right to a speedy trial, telling the judge he understood what he was doing when his lawyer sought a date beyond the New Year.

McDannel said Abbott's current treatment left him "competent" to make the decision.

George scheduled a three-week trial for Jan. 12, 2009.