BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The man accused of killing Kern High School District police chief Steve Alvidrez in a 2011 crash on Highway 99 has retained a new attorney, and his trial date was postponed to next year.

David Lopez Lilly was represented by the Kern County Public Defender's Office before retaining David A. Torres, who officially substituted in as his attorney during a brief hearing Wednesday morning.

The move was granted over the objection of prosecutor Gina Pearl, who said Lilly was engaging in delay tactics. She said he waited until shortly before his trial was scheduled to begin -- it had previously been set for Aug. 11 -- to retain Torres.

Pearl said it's her belief Lilly is "playing games with the criminal justice system," noting he fled to Mexico when he was indicted

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