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(KSL News) A judge was scheduled to sentence Matthew Kirkham today, but he delayed the sentencing until November. Kirkham previously pleaded guilty to killing his 72 year-old mother in their Kearns home in 2005.
Prosecutors argued Kirkham hit his mom JoAnn in the head with a rock and then made her breathe into a paint bag.
Court-appointed mental experts determined Kirkham is schizophrenic and was mentally ill at the time of the crime. His defense attorney is hoping he is sent to a halfway house.
Prosecutor Alicia Cook disagreed. She said, "I will be recommending that Matthew Kirkham be sentenced to prison. I understand that there are a lot of very sad factors about this case, but my job is to look at what is beat for the safety of the community."
The judge is waiting on a report from the Department of Corrections with some recommendations.
