(originally reported on wnbc.com )

POSTED: 11:37 am EST November 14, 2007
UPDATED: 11:44 am EST November 14, 2007

NEW YORK -- A judge has rescheduled the trial of three police detectives accused of killing an unarmed man on his wedding day to give the defense team more time to prepare.

The trial had been set for early January, and will now begin Feb. 4 in Queens.

The officers have pleaded not guilty.

Sean Bell was killed and two of his friends seriously wounded on Nov. 25, 2006, hours before he was to be married. The three were leaving Bell's bachelor party at a Queens strip club.

Defense lawyers have said the undercover detectives, who were investigating alleged prostitution at the club, believed the victims were getting a gun from a car.

Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives' Endowment Association, said the officers were still considering whether to seek a change of venue.