The trial for two dozen suspects charged with butchering two Scandinavian hikers was abruptly adjourned on Thursday.
The trial was postponed minutes before opening statements were set to begin so the defense could have more time to prepare, Agence France-Presse reported.
The two women, Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, had their throats slits and were beheaded in December in an isolated area of the Atlas Mountains, about 50 miles from Marrakesh.
They were discovered by French hikers.
In a disturbing video of the slayings shared on social media, which showed one of the women being beheaded, some of the attackers allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS. One of them referred to the “enemies of Allah.”
Investigators said some members of the “cell” were inspired by ISIS ideology but Morocco’s anti-terror chief said they had no contact with the jihadist group.
ISIS has never claimed responsibility for the double murder.
The suspects range in age from 25 to 33 and lived in Marrakesh. The three main defendants who are accused of direct involvement could face the death penalty.
The trial will resume May 16.
