Sarah B. Gonzales McLinn

Both the prosecution and defense in the case of a Lawrence woman accused of killing and nearly decapitating Cici’s Pizza franchise owner Harold M. Sasko in January requested on Thursday to delay the trial from its previously scheduled Jan. 5, 2015, date.

Sarah B. Gonzales McLinn, 20, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sasko, her 52-year-old former roommate. At a preliminary hearing in May, law enforcement and Douglas County Coroner Erik Mitchell testified that McLinn put crushed sleeping pills into Sasko’s beer, bound his wrists and ankles and plunged a hunting knife into his neck.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson and McLinn’s attorney, Carl Cornwell, both, for different reasons, asked Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin to continue the trial. Branson said he was waiting on an expert witness to prepare a report, while Cornwell said he needed the extra time because there are “a lot of things going on” and the “investigation is ongoing.”

This is the second time McLinn’s trial has been delayed. In June, McLinn waived her right to a speedy trial to push her originally scheduled August trial to the Jan. 5, 2015, date.

The court will set McLinn’s new jury trial date at her next court appearance on Dec. 18.

Cornwell, however, told Martin that he still retained hope that the case would not go to trial and that a plea agreement could be reached. He has previously said that his client suffers from mental illness and has never denied killing Sasko.

“There’s always a hope, Judge, that the parties agree,” Cornwell said.

Branson, who is seeking a “hard 50” sentence — or 50 years in prison — for McLinn, declined to comment on whether a plea deal could be an option.