A hearing to determine whether a Lawrence man is competent to stand trial on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of his wife was postponed until next week.

Larry L. Hopkins, 67, who remains in the Douglas County Jail on a $150,000 bond, appeared in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday for a scheduled competency hearing. Judge Michael Malone granted the defense’s request for a mental health evaluation last week.

Hopkins’ attorney, Clinton Lee, was unable to attend Wednesday’s hearing because a jury deliberation in another case ran long. Malone rescheduled the hearing for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

If found incompetent to stand trial and help in his defense, Hopkins will be taken to the state hospital in Larned for rehabilitation. After 90 days he will be reevaluated to determine whether he can stand trial.

Hopkins was charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 5 shooting death of his wife, 61-year-old Margaret Hopkins, at the couple’s home in the 1600 block of West 2nd Terrace. Police alleged that Larry shot Margaret because of her ongoing health concerns. If convicted, he faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years.