Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse murder trial was delayed today after a Congolese translator expressed concern the defendant couldn't understand him, a defense lawyer said.

Award Kabayiza, 24, a Congolese refugee, is accused of beating to death fellow refugee Jesca Nyirakubanza, 64, of Syracuse, inside a Butternut Street residence.

There have been translation problems since the November 2016 murder. Defense lawyer Ralph Cognetti has suggested that the alleged confession: "The woman I killed bit me" was incorrectly translated from Congolese by a police interpreter.

And more than one court proceeding has been delayed by shortages or translators struggling to keep up.

Today, County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller ordered a translator for Kabayiza's non-jury trial. Opening statements were planned for this morning.

But after talking to Kabayiza prior to trial, the translator had bad news for Cognetti: the two men were talking two different dialects.

The translator didn't think Kabayiza was catching everything being said -- a crucially important part of a fair trial.

So Cognetti expected the trial to be postponed until Wednesday, when another translator could be found. (Court translators are contractors employed on an as-needed basis.)

Kabayiza, who remains jailed, faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murder.