NIU students Jerry Diaz and Peter Gogola were to appear in DeKalb County Circiut Court Wednesday, but the hearing was continued to next month.

Diaz and Gogola, both legally blind, are charged with voluntary manslaughter for the July 22 death of a Genoa man. Robert Lurz, 30, was shot and killed while attempting to enter Diaz’s Greek Row apartment.

The cases of Diaz and Gogola were formally joined in December by Associate Circuit Court Judge Richard Larson and a hearing date was set for Wednesday. However, Diaz did not appear at the hearing and Gogola’s attorney Edward Diedrich made a motion to sever the two cases. Circuit Court Judge Rex Meilinger continued the motion, along with the hearing, to Feb. 10.