AUBURN - A Lewiston man charged with killing his mother was ordered held without bail Tuesday during a brief court appearance the day after his arrest.

Matthew N. Audet, 22, of 101 Birch St., Lewiston, his hair bleached blond, wore an orange jail suit, his ankles shackled as he stood before Justice Carl Bradford at Androscoggin County Superior Court.

Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese asked that Audet be jailed until a court hearing when a judge would hear arguments on whether there is probable cause to continue holding him without bail. In the meantime, the state is expected to present evidence to a grand jury in hopes it would return a murder indictment against Audet. At the next court hearing, set for April 17, Audet would be expected to enter his plea on the indictment.

Until then, Bradford said Audet wouldn't be eligible for bail. Justin Leary, a local attorney representing Audet in court Tuesday, said he didn't dispute probable cause underlying a police complaint that resulted in the arrest and murder charge against his client Monday.

A sworn police affidavit released Monday includes an interview with a family friend who said she was told Audet had a sexual relationship with his mother. During a police interview with Audet's wife, Kayla, she said she also had a sexual relationship with Audet's mother, Debra, the affidavit said.

Kayla Audet said she saw Matthew choking his mother Sunday on a mattress on the floor of the apartment all three shared. An autopsy revealed injuries consistent with strangulation.

Several people attended the morning court hearing, including Alyssa Drake, who said she had known Matthew Audet since he was 11.

She lived across the street from the defendant and they became good friends, she said. Until Tuesday, she hadn't seen him for about a month.

Drake said Audet had told her that his mother molested him and physically abused him. She also witnessed Debra Audet abuse her son in public, Drake said.

"We watched some physical touching with his mom touching him in places she shouldn't be touching him. She used to beat the hell out of him for no reason at all. She'd push him, smack him, and, you know, he would just keep walking."

Drake said she called Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to report the abuse, but they never followed up on her complaint.

"The state didn't do nothing about it," she said.

Drake also said Audet's mother gave him alcohol and marijuana when he was young.

"She was having him smoke. She would say that it would keep him out of trouble," Drake said.

Debra Audet would call police if her son left and report that he had tried to assault her, Drake said.

Police said Tuesday they had responded to repeated domestic violence calls at the Audet residence dating back to 1995 that resulted in arrests.

Matthew Audet's parents had divorced and his father had lived across the street, Drake said. He died several years ago, she said.

Drake said she could understand why Audet would want to kill his mother after years of abuse.

"Matt's really not a violent person," Drake said. "He snapped."