A case involving two legally blind NIU students charged with voluntary manslaughter was continued again Tuesday after the attorney for one of the defendants failed to show in DeKalb County Court.

Gerardo Diaz and Peter Gogola, both 22, are charged in the July 22 shooting death of a Genoa man. DeKalb County Circuit Court Judge Rex Mellinger was to decide if the two defendants’ cases should be formally joined and to rule on a motion to suppress prior statements made by the defendants to the DeKalb Police during the investigation.

owever, Diaz‘ attorney Richard Price was unable to attend the hearing due to a prior commitment. The last hearing date which was in Janurary also was continued because Price could not attend. Mellinger Tuesday continued the hearing to March 18.

Diaz and Gogola are accused of shooting Robert Lurz, 30, at Diaz’ apartment, 926 Greenbrier Road. Lurz had been a guest of Gogola for a few days prior to the incident. Lurz allegedly was trying to enter the Diaz apartment when he was shot seven times with a rifle owned by Gogola. Fifteen rounds of the semi-automatic rifle’s 20 rould clip were fired during the incident.