KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? An August trial date has been set for a man accused of killing five people, including a pregnant woman.

Wyandotte County District Judge Thomas L. Boeding on Thursday denied a request from Darrell Lamont Stallings’ newly appointed attorneys to postpone the trial for a year to give them time to prepare a defense.

Prosecutors had asked for Stallings’ trial to start in 30 to 45 days. Instead, Boeding ordered the trial to start on Aug. 2.

Last month, Boeding allowed Stallings’ previous attorneys, both with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Council, to withdraw from the case because of a breakdown in communication.

Stallings and Errik A. Harris, 27, are charged with five counts of capital murder and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. If convicted, they face the death penalty.

Stallings and Harris, whose trial has been delayed indefinitely, are accused of killing Trina Jennings, 26, Melvin Montague, 34, Destiny Wiles, 23, Samantha Sigler, 24, and Tameika Jackson, 24, all of Kansas City, Kan., on the morning of June 10, 2002. Jennings was seven months pregnant.

Outside the courtroom, Jennings’ mother, Louise Hickmon, said she was frustrated with the delays and was not satisfied with how the case had progressed.

“He (Stallings) should be off the face of the earth now,”” Hickmon said. “My daughter did not have a chance. Why should he have a chance now? It’s just not right.”