A preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to try the suspected killer of Blaze Bernstein was postponed this week after the defence said they were not ready.
Samuel Woodward, 20, a former high school classmate, is charged with Mr Bernstein’s murder. At his arraignment earlier this year, Mr Woodward pleaded not guilty and the judge set his bail at $5 million (£3.75 million).
Although the authorities have not yet made public their theories on Mr Woodward’s possible motive, the Orange County Register reported that he told investigators Mr Bernstein had made unwelcome advances.
It is the latest development in the case of the 19-year-old second-year student at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, who disappeared on January 2 this year.
