Last Updated: Wednesday, August 30, 2000, 2:30 p.m.

Fitzhugh murder trial delayed

The trial of Kenneth Fitzhugh, the 57-year-old man accused of murdering his wife in their Southgate home, has been delayed several months--most likely until next year.

Fitzhugh's attorney, Tom Nolan, requested a delay in the trial, which was supposed to start in a few weeks, for both professional and personal reasons. In addition to the Fitzhugh case, Nolan is also preparing a defense for another man accused of murder in the southern part of the county.

Nolan will also be able to watch his son Sean, a backup goalie for the U.S. water polo team, compete in the upcoming Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.

The delay gives both sides extra time to prepare for the Fitzhugh trial, which promises to have a great deal of complicated forensic and blood evidence. Fitzhugh is accused of beating his wife to death May 5 and staging her death to look like an accident. He is being held in the Main County Jail in San Jose on $10 million bail.