King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has pushed back his decision on whether to seek the death penalty in the Isaiah Kalebu / South Park slaying case until early next year.

Kalebu, 24, is accused of creeping into a South Park home on July 19 and attacking two women, leaving one dead and the other seriously wounded. He is charged with aggravated first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary in connection with the slaying of Teresa Butz, 39, and the attack on her 36-year-old partner.

In a letter sent to defense attorneys Ramona Brandes and Michael Schwartz this week, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Mark Larson said prosecutors intend to make a decision on the death penalty by Feb. 12, which would be six months after Kalebu was arraigned on the charges.

State law gives Satterberg 30 days from a suspect's arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty. If Kalebu's attorneys agree to extend the deadline, they will have more time to prepare for legal challenges in case Satterberg does seek capital punishment.

Kalebu and his attorneys had requested a nine-month delay before the death penalty decision is announced, prosecutors said. Kalebu was in court for a brief hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Hayden today. His next hearing date was scheduled for January.