The parents of slain University of Virginia student Hannah Graham watched from the second row of a Charlottesville courtroom Wednesday as a judge agreed to delay the trial of the man charged with her murder . John Graham peered over the top of his glasses at Jesse Matthew Jr. , who is accused in the September 2014 disappearance and death of his 18-year-old daughter . It was the first in-person appearance by Matthew , 33 , since an Albemarle County grand jury indicted him on charges of abduction with intent to defile and first-degree murder . Matthew 's defense requested additional time to hire a DNA expert to analyze physical evidence in the case . Scroll down for video . Jesse Matthew ( left ) , 33 , appeared in court Wednesday for the first time since he was indicted on charges of abduction with intent to defile and first-degree murder in the death of UVA student Hannah Graham ( right ) Back in court : Sheriff 's deputies guard a van carrying Jesse Matthew Jr. after a hearing at the Albemarle County Circuit Court in Charlottesville , Virginia , March 4 , 2015 . A judge agreed to delay the trial . Matthew , who attended a previous hearing by video link from jail , faces up to life in prison if convicted in Hannah Graham 's death . The Graham couple left the courthouse after the 15-minute hearing without speaking to reporters . Defense : James Camblos , attorney for Jesse Matthew Jr. , said his client is 'holding up , ' when asked by reporters who he was doing . When they arrived in the courtroom , Hannah 's grieving parents were greeted with a hug by Gil Harrington , the mother of another slain college student . Authorities have said forensic evidence links Matthew to the 2009 death of 20-year-old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington , who vanished while attending a Metallica concert at University of Virginia . Matthew has not been charged in that case . ' I really felt honor-bound as Morgan 's mother to be here today , ' Harrington said after the hearing . 'Being a witness to these proceedings is one of the few things I can do for her . ' Harrington said she made eye contact with the handcuffed and shackled Matthew when he was brought into court . 'It 's a strange feeling , ' she said . Matthew , 33 , looked around the courtroom upon entering but said nothing during the hearing , which was attended by his relatives . Matthew 's family members also were silent as they left the courthouse . When asked how Matthew was doing , defense attorney Jim Camblos said , 'He 's holding up . ' Prosecutors did not object to the defense motion to delay the trial , which had been set for June 29 . A new date will be set at a status conference May 5 . Albemarle County Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins also approved a defense request that the state provide a DNA expert . Commonwealth 's Attorney Denise Lunsford did not object . Sue and John Graham , seen here in a freeze frame from a video made last October , got a chance to look their daughter 's accused killer in the face Wednesday . Full of life : Graham was a sophomore at the University of Virginia when she went missing September 13 near its campus . Her remains were found in October near Charlottesville . Graham was a sophomore at the University of Virginia when she went missing September 13 near its campus , prompting a monthlong search that ended in tragedy . Her remains were found in October just miles from where she was last seen in Charlottesville . Matthew also faces trial June 8 on charges of attempted murder and sexual assault in Fairfax County . The former hospital worker and cab driver also was accused of sexually assaulting students at Liberty University and Christopher Newport University when he was a defensive lineman on their football teams more than a decade ago . Those cases were dropped when the women declined to prosecute , officials have said .
Virginia judge threatened to delay the trial of 33-year - old sue Matthew . Matthew 's defense requested additional time to hire a DNA expert to analyze physical evidence in the case . Matthew faces up to life in prison if convicted in sue Graham 's September 2014 killing . The 18-year - old University of Virginia student 's remains were found in October after week - long search . Forensic evidence also links Matthew to the 2009 death of 20-year - old Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington .