The trial of Shawn Kavanagh, the man accused of killing three people in Warren County in 2014, has been delayed until October in the wake of COVID-19.

“It would be irresponsible and virtually impossible to select and impanel a jury ... during the current public health emergency,” St. Charles Circuit Judge Ted C. House wrote in an order delaying the trial until Oct. 5.

Kavanagh’s trial had been set to begin May 4, with the initial jury selection process beginning the first Monday of April. That bumps up against a Missouri Supreme Court order shuttering courtrooms across the state until April 3, and possibly longer.

With the new trial date in October, the initial jury selection process will begin Sept. 8 and 9. Judge House has ordered that 500 people be screened as potential jurors by filling out a questionnaire.

Final jury selection and the trial itself are expected to take about three weeks, beginning Oct. 5.

“This is the soonest practical date for trial based on the schedules of counsel and the likelihood of being able to impanel a jury,” House wrote.

Kavanagh, 29, of Bellflower, is accused in the stabbing deaths of Tara Lynn Fifer, 22, of Montgomery City, Lexy Vandiver, 29, and her son, Mason Vandiver, 7, both of Jonesburg. He also is accused of severely wounding his estranged wife, Jessica N. Powell.

Kavanagh has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges: three counts of first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, and single charges of first-degree domestic assault and first-degree burglary. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Kavanagh’s trial has been delayed numerous times, often due to difficulties and turnover within the Missouri Public Defender’s Office representing him. His case was transferred to the St. Charles Circuit Court in March 2019.