San Diego

A fitness hearing for Genaro S. Villanueva, 16, accused in the slaying of actor David Huffman, was continued until May 9, when a judge will decided if the youth should be tried as an adult. Defense attorney W. Allan Williams and prosecutor Harry Elias agreed to the postponement so both sides can study a recent state appellate court ruling that sets new guidelines for trying juvenile murder defendants as adults. Elias said that a San Diego County Probation Department report has recommended that Villanueva be tried as an adult. If the youth is tried as an adult and convicted of murder, the maximum punishment would be life in prison. But if Villanueva is tried as a juvenile and convicted of murder, he can only be imprisoned until he is 25 years old.