The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports 27-year-old Shawn Kavanagh’s trial on three counts of first-degree murder and other charges was scheduled to begin Wednesday. One of Kavanaugh’s lawyers, Robert Lundt, asked for a postponement because he was too ill to continue.

A hearing was scheduled for Oct. 2 to set a new trial date.

Kavanagh, of Bellflower, is charged in the February 2014 stabbing deaths of 29-year-old Lexy Vandiver, her 7-year-old son, Mason, and 22-year-old Tara Lynn Fifer, of Montgomery City. Kavanagh is also charged with stabbing and wounding his estranged wife.

The victims were attacked in a home south of Jonesburg. Vandiver’s 18-month-old daughter was found unharmed inside the home.