OKEMAH, Okla. (AP) - A judge has delayed a hearing for an Okmulgee man facing separate murder charges for the death of his girlfriend and the deaths of two young Weleetka girls.

Kevin Sweat was due in court Monday for a preliminary hearing in the death of his girlfriend, Ashley Taylor. Sweat is also charged in the June 2008 shooting deaths of 13-year-old Taylor Placker and 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker.

Police say the killings are unrelated - but detectives looking into Ashley Taylor's death say they found shell casings that allegedly linked Sweat to the deaths of the young girls.

A judge on Monday agreed to delay the preliminary hearing in Ashley Taylor's death until May 22 after defense attorneys said they needed more time to review documents.

Sweat has pleaded not guilty.