Lawyers for Dexter Lewis, who is charged with killing five people at Fero’s Bar and Grill, asked a Denver District Court judge on Thursday to delay his trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 20, for six months.
After listening to 3½ hours of arguments on the matter, Judge John W. Madden said that he would rule by Monday.
Prosecutors in July said they were seeking the death penalty in the case.
Firefighters discovered the bodies when they responded to an early-morning fire on Oct. 17, 2012, at the bar on South Colorado Boulevard.
The four women and one man were stabbed to death in what prosecutors say was a robbery that netted $170.
Two brothers, Joseph and Lynell Hill, were also involved. After both pleaded guilty, Joseph Hill received five life sentences, and Lynell Hill was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Lewis’ lawyer, Chris Baumann, said his legal team needs additional time to complete interviews of many witnesses who would testify about the crime. Other witnesses would testify about child abuse and neglect in Lewis’ childhood and his mental status.
“We have gone to nine different cities in seven states,” Baumann said of the interviews conducted so far. But more remain to be conducted, he added.
“To try to do that between now and Jan. 20 is impossible,” he said.
