The State Forensic Service will examine a Waldoboro woman to determine her mental state when she allegedly shot and killed Norman P. Benner Jr. According to a State Police affidavit, Arline Lawless, 25, also known as Arline Seavey, stated she shot Benner when she thought he was going to leave her for another woman.

A Lincoln County grand jury indicted Lawless on a murder charge September 13 in connection with Benner's death in July. Lawless stated she shot Benner in his sleep, then shot herself about five minutes later, State Police Detective Abbe Chabot wrote.

Court documents show the prosecution and defense have agreed to the mental exam. In requesting it September 5, Assistant Attorney General Deborah Cashman wrote: “The circumstances … strongly suggest that the defendant may have mental illness issues, including neuropsychological issues.”

One of the case's “likely issues” will be if Lawless acted knowingly or intentionally, or she “had a serious mental condition that caused her to be unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct,” the motion states.

Lawless was scheduled to appear September 27 in Lincoln County Superior Court in Wiscasset.