A competency hearing to see whether North River Boats Inc. owner Brian K. Brush is competent to stand trial has been delayed until Jan. 12, officials said Wednesday.

The competency hearing had been set for today. Pacific County (Wash.) Prosecutor David Burke said he had asked the court to push the hearing back as an expert witness he wanted to appear was not available today.

Brush's defense attorney, David Hatch, had asked for the competency hearing so the court could decide if Brush is competent to stand trial.

Brush has already undergone a 14-day competency evaluation at a state psychiatric hospital near Tacoma.

The contents of that evaluation have been sealed.

Brush has been charged with first-degree murder with aggravating factors.

If convicted he could face up to life in prison. He is accused of shooting his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Lisa Bonney, in broad daylight Sept. 11 near a paved beach approach in Long Beach, Wash.