Hearing Postponed for Military Murder Suspect

A preliminary hearing for a soldier charged with kidnapping and murdering a Wilmington woman has been postponed.

The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., reports that the hearing was postponed Tuesday because of transportation issues involved in getting Dwight L. Smith Jr. to court. Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Nina Monzack says the hearing has been rescheduled for Jan. 10.

Twenty-four-year-old Smith of Wilmington is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of Marsha Lee. He is being held without bail.

Police say Lee was walking her dog last week when Smith struck her with his SUV and dumped her body in a nearby maintenance yard. Smith's arrest affidavit says he told police he suddenly got the idea to kill someone and randomly chose Lee.