Dustin Paxton, 30, has been ordered to undergo a second month of psychiatric testing as he awaits trial on charges of forcible confinement and assault in two separate cases. (Regina Police Service)A man accused of confining and brutally attacking his former roommate will undergo a second 30-day psychiatric assessment, a Calgary judge decided Friday.

Dustin Paxton, 30, is facing two counts of aggravated assault and one count of forcible confinement in connection with a long-running series of attacks that left Dustin LaFortune, 26, emaciated and disfigured.

Paxton was also charged with the forcible confinement and aggravated assault of a Calgary girl.

Paxton, who is being held at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre, was ordered last month to undergo a 30-day assessment before he faces trial.

But Paxton's psychiatrist said another month is needed to finish observing him, defence lawyer Jim Lutz told a provincial court judge on Friday.

"It's just due to staffing. The caseload at SAFPC, and for all the forensic work, has been staggering over the last six months," he said.

Paxton did not appear in court for Friday's hearing.

"I talked with him this morning. He's relaxed. He seems to be very focused on the issues," said Lutz.

"There was some concerns when he first appeared, that he wasn't quite getting a hold of what was going on. But he's certainly in a situation where he's wrapped his head around what's going on. He's cognizant of the allegations."

LaFortune's family has said the assault on him amounted to torture.

Police believe Paxton assaulted LaFortune in Calgary between Dec. 1, 2008, and March 2, 2010, and again in Regina between March 15 and April 16, the day LaFortune turned up at Regina General Hospital.

Paxton's next court date was set for Nov. 1.

The court also executed an outstanding warrant Friday against Paxton for allegedly smoking on a Calgary C-Train platform.