Teen Who Murdered His Family May Be Tried As A Juvenile: Critical Hearing Postponed

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Just as the second month of 2008 got underway, Nicholas Browning told police how he had argued with his father and then shot and killed his father, mother and two brothers, aged 13 and 11, while they slept.

The oldest of three sons was an athlete and had a lot of friends. He had no reported history of any sociopathic behaviours or mental illness, although it was reported that he bullied some people, including his brothers. His father, 45-year-old John Browning, was an attorney and his mother, 44-year-old Tamara Browning, was the PTA President. Both were reportedly involved in their children's lives, including scouting, and led an active family lifestyle.

Nicholas confessed to the murders and was charged with four counts of 1st degree murder.

Police said Nicholas shot the family Friday night, dumped the gun in bushes not far from his house and spent Friday night and all day Saturday with friends.

When driven back to his home Saturday at 5 p.m., he went in the house and came back out to tell his friends that his father was dead inside, police said.

The gun used to kill his family was said to be his father's own handgun.

In April, Nicholas was cleared to undergo psychiatric evaluation. The evaluations had been delayed because his defense attorneys wanted to sit in on the evaluation, but later dropped their request to sit in.

Now, the hearing that had been scheduled to determine whether the 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time, would be tried as a juvenile or adult, has suffered another delay because the "Department of Juvenile Services hasn't yet completed its report on Browning", according to a local NBC report.

This report includes the psychiatric evaluation results. Attorney's are said to be holding a scheduling meeting tomorrow in an effort to ensure a "speedy trial".