NORTHWOOD — The lawyer for a Mason City man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in Northwood’s Swensrud Park is asking that his trial be pushed back.

Susan Flanders, lawyer of Tyrone Robin Washington Jr., made the motion in Worth County District Court on Tuesday. Washington’s trial had been slated to begin Oct. 30.

Washington faces a first-degree murder charge in the Aug. 5 death of Justina Marie Smith, 30. An autopsy stated Smith died from multiple sharp-force injuries.

Iowa State Patrol troopers arrested Washington in Scott County, Iowa, after he allegedly stabbed Smith in the park, then fled the scene in her car, a silver 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Washington was spotted on Interstate 80 in Cedar County before allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase ending in Scott County, where he reportedly drove through corn and bean fields along the interstate.

Worth County court records state Washington had allegedly assaulted and strangled Smith the previous month.