Public defender Eric Dirnbeck was granted a motion for a continuance Monday morning in the murder trial of Austin Lee Sandefur, 17, of West Frankfort.
Dirnbeck said discussions between the defense and the state had not resulted in a resolution as he requested a continuance of the jury trial.
Sandefur, who was slated to appear Tuesday in Franklin County Court in Benton to begin the jury trial, was granted a continuance to Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Sandefur is accused of the May 5 first-degree murder of Elizabeth Obrecht, 14, also of West Frankfort.
Franklin County State's Attorney Tom Dinn said he had no objection to the motion for a continuance but asked if Sandefur should be moved to the Franklin County Jail. Sandefur has been housed in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center and was 16 at the time of his arrest.
Dirnbeck said he did not know Sandefur's position on being moved to the jail facility and was not prepared to respond.
Dirnbeck said the state had filed additional discovery in the case.
He requested an opportunity to hire a forensics expert, saying the forensics expert would present differing opinions.
"I nor my client want to delay this case," Dirnbeck said.
"I am just not ready to go to trial tomorrow."
Judge Tom Tedeschi asked Sandefur if he wanted to continue the case based on Dirnbeck's motion. Sandefur agreed that was what he wanted to do.
Dirnbeck said he had not employed an investigator in the case, adding that he would be proceeding down that path.
