BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The murder trial for a 17-year-old boy accused of stabbing and bludgeoning an elderly Bakersfield couple is on hold to determine his mental competency.

A judge granted a defense request Thursday to do a mental evaluation for Luis Palafox that will be considered at a Dec. 3 hearing.

Palafox faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 81-year-old Joseph Parrott and his 77-year-old wife Dorothy.

The couple was attacked as they slept in their home in August 2008.

Another teen, Kyle Hoffman, has pleaded no contest to first-degree murder in a deal with prosecutors that gives him a chance at parole.

Hoffman says he and Palafox picked the Parrott home to burglarize, thinking no one was home at the time. He alleges that Palafox was responsible for the attacks.

The prosecution called police witnesses to the stand in February. Officer Christopher Knutson said he was the first to arrive on scene.

Inside he said he found Joe Parrott dead on a bed with a pillow over his face and dried blood around him. Knutson said he found Dorothy in the next bedroom.

"I observed there was blood spattered on the walls and that there was dried blood on the blankets and pillows and there was also a pillow covering her face," said Knutson.

Detective Dennis Murphy testified that in an interview with Hoffman, the teen told him that he and Palafox smoked marijuana in his family's apartment the day of the murder.

"While in the apartment that day they had discussed going out that night burglarizing or entering some vehicles and had discussed possibly burglarizing a residence," said Murphy.

Murphy said Hoffman then told him they decided to break into the Parrott's home because there was no car in the driveway. And Palafox was carrying a baseball bat in his pant leg and a knife in his sock.

"Hoffman told me Palafox told him something along the lines, 'If there's anybody there don't worry, I'll take care of them,' said Murphy.

Murphy said Hoffman told him that he and Palafox stole money, jewelry, pens and rare coins from the Parrott's home and divided up the items in a church parking lot.

Murphy also said Hoffman confessed to the crime to his next door neighbor who then called police.

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