The delay also ensures that down the line, the plea agreement will not be vulnerable to an appeal, Feinmel said.

Both the prosecution and defense said they still expect Adams to enter a guilty plea with a life sentence next week.

Adams told police he killed a dozen people as he traversed the United States by train, according to authorities. He was an “enforcer” in a train-riding gang.

Chassereau, a drifter and longtime homeless man who grew up in New Kent County and Henrico, was found beaten to death June 5, 2006, in the Acca railroad yard just north of the Richmond city limits.

At the time of Chassereau’s death, Adams was renting a room on Grace Street in Richmond and was known to sell drugs to homeless people at the Acca yard. Chassereau was a customer, according to investigators.

Adams has been referred to by the nickname “Crazy Mike” in court records. Linka said Adams prefers to be called “Dirty Mike” or his given name. Adams objects to any references to him as “Crazy Mike” in future proceedings, Linka said in a motion last year.