Updated

A judge says he'll decide soon whether a Maine teenager charged with stabbing his parents to death should be tried as an adult.

Andrew Balcer's defense attorney said Thursday there are better services available if Balcer remains at the Maine Youth Center. But prosecutors say he should be tried as an adult because of the severity of the crimes.

Balcer was 17 when he was charged with killing Antonio and Alice Balcer last Halloween in Winthrop.

His attorney says Balcer was having gender identity issues and didn't feel his parents would accept him.

Balcer will turn 19 in December, meaning he could be detained only two more years as a juvenile. If tried as an adult, he'd face 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.