JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- The lawyer for a former North Carolina-based Marine accused of killing a pregnant colleague has asked to delay the trial three months because of a knee injury.

In a motion filed on Monday, Richard McNeil said a knee injury he suffered in January has "hampered" his ability to prepare for the trial. McNeil said if the motion is denied, Cesar Laurean's rights to a fair trial will be violated. The trial is scheduled to begin in June.

Laurean is charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach of Vandalia, Ohio. He fled to Mexico shortly before her charred remains were found buried in his backyard in Jacksonville in January 2008. He was arrested in April 2008 and extradited to North Carolina last year.

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