(Oxnard, California) The preliminary hearing for a 15-year-old charged with murder in the killing of openly gay student Lawrence King has been postponed until July.

The hearing, where the prosecution is required to prove there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial, was to have begun this week, but is now put off until July 8 because Brandon McInerney’s attorney said he needed more time to prepare.

McInerney, who is charged as an adult with murder as a hate crime, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys had fought unsuccessfully to get the case moved from adult to juvenile court.

If convicted as an adult, he could be sentenced to 51 years to life. If he were convicted in juvenile court, the sentence would be much shorter.

King, 15, often dressed in a feminine manner and told friends that he was gay. He was shot in the head during a morning class at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard in February 2008. More than 20 other students were in the room at the time. McInerney, then 14, was arrested shortly after the shooting.