ALFRED — A York County Superior Court justice has ordered a Limington man charged with killing his neighbor in an attack with a machete two years ago to undergo a competency exam.

Justice Wayne Douglas ordered the exam, to be conducted by the State Forensic Service, in April. The exam is to determine Bruce Akers competency to proceed to trial, according to documents on file at the court.

In a September 2016 court hearing, Akers, 59, denied that he killed his neighbor in a brutal attack with a machete and then tried to conceal the crime by hiding his victim’s body under decomposing deer carcasses. He pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder at York County Superior Court in connection with the June 9, 2016, death of 55-year-old Douglas Flint.

According to court documents, if the State Forensic Service determines further examination is necessary, it must outline the nature and scope of that determination to the court.

Court documents say that Justice Douglas plans the trial for early 2019.

York County Sheriff ’s deputies said the killing may have stemmed from a disagreement between the men over a six-pack of beer.

The two had an acrimonious relationship for some time and had a history of disagreements and property disputes, court documents revealed.

Police said search dogs uncovered Flint’s body on Akers’ three-acre property in Limington, underneath several rotting deer carcasses.

Flint’s body was found by a Maine State Police dog behind Akers’ camper home on the morning of June 11, 2016, according to court documents.

The court affidavit prepared by Maine State Police Detective Corey Pike said an autopsy performed by the Maine chief medical examiner showed Flint died of “severe and extensive blunt and sharp injuries of the head and neck with almost total decapitation.”

A machete was found in Akers’ camper. It tested positive for blood, according to the court documents.

Sgt. Steve Thistlewood and Deputy Robert Carr of York County Sheriff ’s Office searched Flint’s property after Flint was reported missing by family members, and then made their way to Akers’ camper home, located off a shared dirt driveway.

According to the affidavit, they asked if Flint was still alive, and Akers allegedly shook his head “no.”

They said Akers had a cut on his finger, scratches on his shins, back, right arm and right pectoral and a red mark on his abdomen.

“The guy just wouldn’t leave me alone,” Akers allegedly told deputies, according to the court documents. “I actually would have called you guys right away, but I wanted a few hours of freedom … and enjoy it. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it that much.”

If convicted of the Class A felony, Akers could be sentenced to life in prison. The minimum prison sentence for murder is 25 years.

Akers is being held without bail at York County Jail.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.