COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A 19-year-old Columbus man accused of stabbing to death his grandmother has been granted a five-month delay before the start of his trial on murder and weapons charges.

The trial of Chase Micklevitz was scheduled to begin next week, but a judge granted defense attorney Mark Sipple’s request for the delay. Sipple was new to the case and told the judge that he needed more time to prepare Micklevitz’s defense. The new starting date for the trial is May 4.

Police have said Micklevitz stabbed 58-year-old Deanna Micklevitz four times on July 30 with a kitchen knife. She was taken to Columbus Community Hospital and then flown to a Lincoln hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

*Editor’s Note: Deanna (Gottula) Micklevitz is formerly of North Platte.