A hearing for the suspect in the slaying of five people inside a San Francisco home has been continued until May 3.

Binh Thai Luc appeared briefly in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday. The judge was expected to set a date for a preliminary hearing, but continued the case after Luc's lawyers said they needed more time to review evidence.

Luc, a Vietnam native, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder plus special circumstances of committing multiple murders, robbery, burglary and lying in wait. He was arrested days after the bodies were discovered on March 23, 2012.

Authorities have released few details about the case, including a possible motive. The weapon used has only been described as a "blunt instrument."

Prosecutors on Tuesday declined to comment on the case.