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Teen charged with killing teacher will have mental health evaluation

SALEM, Mass. -- The trial of a Massachusetts teenager charged with killing his high school math teacher has been delayed after a judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Philip Chism, 16, is charged in the October 2013 slaying of 24-year-old Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer. He was 14 at the time but is being tried as an adult. He pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection started this week and testimony was scheduled to start next Tuesday.

Over the past few days Chism has refused to enter the courtroom, banged his head against a floor and told a psychologist he hears voices and hopes someone will shoot him.

Prosecutors say he's faking to avoid trial.

The judge Thursday ordered an evaluation to determine if he's competent for trial, and that could take 20 days.

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