OSSIPEE, N.H. – A judge has refused to drop a first-degree murder charge against a Maine man accused of killing a 14-year-old girl last year.

Instead, Judge James O’Neill set a hearing for next month to determine whether James Mann, 43, of Fryeburg is competent to stand trial.

Mann is accused of killing Jasmine Steele of Chatham and wounding Linda Miles, her landlord. Mann’s lawyer has argued Mann is mentally ill and not competent to stand trial. He went to court to get the charges dropped, arguing the state took too long to get mental tests.