Murder Suspect’s Hearing Date Delayed

A preliminary hearing for murder suspect David Alvarez has been postponed until mid-summer.

Alvarez, 22, of Ojai, is charged with murder and attempted rape in the Dec. 20 slaying of Kali Manley, 14, of Oak View. Alvarez was scheduled to appear for the hearing on those charges in late May.

But on Tuesday, Alvarez’s lawyer and a prosecutor for the state attorney general’s office requested the matter be delayed until July 27. No reason was given.

Alvarez was charged in March with strangling the Nordhoff High School freshman. The girl was last seen with Alvarez and another man in the early hours of Dec. 20 at a convenience store.

When she did not come home the next day, her parents reported her missing and authorities launched an extensive search in the Ventura County back country.

Her body was found Dec. 26 after Alvarez, who was jailed in a separate case, agreed to lead authorities to her remains. Her body was found inside a drain pipe in the mountains about 40 miles above Ojai.

Alvarez has pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were filed by the attorney general’s office after Dist. Atty. Michael Bradbury requested it take the case because he is a friend of the suspect’s parents.