LAKEPORT — A mandatory settlement conference in the second-degree murder case against Alejandro Aurelio Arias was delayed until next year on Monday.
Arias, 30, faces charges of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and two counts of reckless driving causing injury.
Authorities allege Arias sped through a red light at the intersection of highways 29 and 175 in Lakeport in September 2009 and crashed into another car, killing the driver, Charlane Hill, and severely injuring two of her passengers.
Arias pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied all special allegations in the case.
Settlement and trial-readiness conferences were set for Monday but defense counsel Doug Rhoades asked the court for additional time to confer with his client, according to prosecutor John Langan.
Judge Robert L. Crone Jr. rescheduled the hearings for Jan. 9, Langan said. The jury trial, which is set to begin Jan. 25, was not delayed, according to Langan.
