Lansing - The man accused of killing an MSU professor will not face jail time following a ruling made in Ingham County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Instead, Bramlett Hamilton, 36, was declared not guilty by reason of insanity and will spend at least 60 days in a hospital to have his mental health evaluated.

Hamilton was charged in November with murdering his mother, 66-year-old MSU Professor Ruth Simms-Hamilton. She was found dead in her Meridian Township home on Nov. 11 after being beaten and stabbed.

Bramlett Hamilton turned himself in to authorities that night, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during his arraignment the next day.

He appeared at the Veteran's Memorial Courthouse, 313 W. Kalamazoo St., on Tuesday, hands shackled and wearing an orange jumpsuit, to await the judge's final decision.

Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Cheltenham and Bramlett Hamilton's lawyer, Vincent Green, both agreed on filing for the ruling and presented evidence to the judge.

A copy of the written statement that Hamilton made to police was submitted as evidence, along with the police report and results from a psychiatric evaluation, completed in January.

"Based upon the inquiry the court has made ? I believe it can find that there is reasonable doubt ? for the court to be able to find the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity," Cheltenham said.

Green echoed Cheltenham's statement during opening remarks.

"It is in his best interest in this stage," Green said. "I would ask the court to do so accordingly."

Circuit court Judge James Giddings looked over the evidence, asked Bramlett Hamilton several questions regarding his understanding of the case and made the final ruling.

"Based on (the forensic) report and the other evidence, I'm satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt he caused the death of his mother," Giddings said. "At the time of this offense ? this defendant Bramlett Hamilton had a substantial disorder of thought ? and thus he was mentally ill as defined by the laws of this state."

The courts and his attorney will re-evaluate Bramlett Hamilton following a 60-day stint in a hospital for treatment of his mental health.

After the judge's decision, Green said he was pleased with the outcome.

"The family is satisfied, he's satisfied," Green said. "He will get the help that he needs."

An uncle in the Hamilton family was present at the trial but declined comment.

"It's rare to have this type of case and have to deal with the situation," Green said. "There's an implication that a person who committed something like this isn't healthy, but he was healthy for years."

Bramlett Hamilton graduated from James Madison College in 1989. He went on to graduate from Stanford Law School and was a member of the State Bar of California until 2001.

"He had the best education," Green said. "Obviously, something was wrong."

Green said his client's condition might have worsened following the death of his father, MSU professor James B. Hamilton, who died of Lou Gehrig's disease in 1994.

"It seems like it manifested itself once his father passed away," Green said.

In 2001, Bramlett Hamilton returned to live in his mother's residence in Meridian Township and has been unemployed in recent years.

Sarah McEvilly can be reached at mcevilly@msu.edu.