The preliminary hearing for a Turlock man accused of beating a Hilmar man to death in an incident of road rage, has been postponed for an additional three months.

Michael Hoyt, 50, is facing a homicide charge for the death of 67-year-old Ken Winter on Feb. 1.

The preliminary hearing, which is being held to determine if there is enough cause to hold Hoyt over for trial, was delayed because a key witness was unavailable. A pathologist scheduled to testify for the prosecution was out of the country. The hearing was re-scheduled for Jan. 25, 2011.

Hoyt is accused of beating Winter so severely that he caused internal bleeding, which led to Winter’s death. Witnesses to the attack on Paulson Road told Stanislaus County Sheriff’s investigators that the beating was triggered by a traffic incident.

Hoyt pled not guilty on Feb. 10. He has been out on bail while awaiting trial.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.