A German man charged with killing his much-older wife has been starving himself and a judge says he's currently incapable of acting as his own attorney.

Superior Court Judge Russell Canan decided Wednesday he would hear more testimony later this month before making a final decision on whether 48-year-old Albrecht Muth can represent himself.

Muth is awaiting trial in the August 2011 death of his wife, 91-year-old Viola Drath, a German journalist and socialite.

He has been hospitalized since last month after his most recent hunger strike in jail. A doctor said Muth is in "very, very poor health" and unable to walk.

Muth has insisted on representing himself, and public defenders who have been advising him argued Wednesday that testimony should be heard before that right is removed.