It will be at least six weeks before some of the evidence prosecutors intend to use against a man charged with capital murder will be presented in court.

Wednesday a Douglas County district judge rescheduled a preliminary hearing to Sept. 3 for Damien C. Lewis, 22, Lawrence. A continuance was requested by Lewis’ attorney, Ronald Evans, who heads the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit.

“I want to go as long as the court will let me go,” Evans told Judge Michael Malone about scheduling the preliminary hearing.

Lewis is accused of shooting to death Pete Wallace and Wyona Chandlee, both 71, in their home at 1530 Learnard Ave. Their bodies were found July 11. Lawrence Police said the couple interrupted a burglary.

Lewis also faces several other charges, including aggravated robbery in a second case unrelated to the deaths. Malone scheduled preliminary hearings in both cases for 9 a.m. the same day.

The purpose of a preliminary hearing is for a judge to determine if there is enough evidence to try a suspect on charges.

Evans said he might have to ask Malone for another continuance on Sept. 3. He said he was defending two men charged with capital murder in a quadruple slaying in Wichita.

That trial starts in Sedgwick County District Court on Sept. 9 and could take up to eight weeks, Evans said. Prior to the trial, Evans said he would be reviewing questionnaires completed by potential jurors.

Evans initially asked that the preliminary hearings be delayed until at least November.

Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney told Malone she preferred the preliminary hearing not be unduly delayed.

The capital murder charge against Lewis includes the deaths of both Wallace and Chandlee. Lewis also is charged in a separate count of first-degree murder in Wallace’s death. Other charges include two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary and criminal in possession of a firearm.

Lewis is also charged with burglary in a July 8 break-in at a residence in the 1900 block of Learnard Ave.

He also is charged with aggravated robbery, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia in a case involving the robbery of a man in Edgewood Park, 15th and Brook streets. That case will be heard at the same time as the murder case.

Lewis is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $975,000 bond.

Lewis appeared in court with Evans but did not speak and mostly stared straight ahead.

At least 15 friends and family members of Wallace and Chandlee sat in the courtroom during the hearing. Several of them often looked over toward Lewis on the other side of the courtroom but otherwise showed no emotion.

Malcolm K. Glover, 21, Lawrence, is charged along with Lewis in the Edgewood Park robbery. Malone set Glover’s preliminary hearing on a charge of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The Edgewood Park robbery occurred the night of July 16. That investigation led to Lewis and ultimately allowed police to link him the slayings, police said.

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