BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) – The trial of a Georgia man charged with murder after his toddler son died inside a hot SUV will go into recess as Hurricane Matthew heads toward the southern region of the U.S.

According to news media outlets, Judge Mary Staley Clark said before testimony began Wednesday that the trial will be put on hold starting at noon Thursday and will reconvene Friday. The trial is being held in Brunswick, Georgia, which is expected to be in the path of the hurricane.

The Glynn County Board of Commissioners called for a voluntary evacuation of St. Simons island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island. Clark says she will remain in the St. Simon area throughout the weekend.

Prosecutors say Justin Ross Harris intentionally killed his 22-month-old son, Cooper, by leaving the child for seven hours in a vehicle parked outside the father’s Cobb County workplace.

Harris’ defense lawyer Maddox Kilgore told the jury in his opening statement Tuesday that Harris is certainly responsible for his son’s death, but insisted it was an accident and Harris committed no crime.