Palmdale abuse case: Pre-trial hearing postponed for mother of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A pre-trial hearing was postponed Tuesday for the mother of Gabriel Fernandez, an 8-year-old Palmdale boy who was beaten to death in 2013.

Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, were each charged with torturing and murdering the child.

A continuance was issued for the hearing after the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said its medical expert had not yet evaluated Fernandez. The mother has pleaded not guilty to murder with the special circumstance of torturing her son.

In November, a jury found Aguirre guilty of first-degree murder in his separate trial. Two months later, jurors recommended that he receive the death penalty.

Prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty for Fernandez, whose hearing is now scheduled for Jan. 31.