A judge this morning delayed the trial of a Fresno businessman in a murder-for-hire case, partly because the defendant's attorney hasn't received police reports regarding a key prosecution witness who was wounded in Clovis by an unknown gunman in late November.

Attorney Anthony Capozzi, who is representing defendant Daljit Singh, also was given new investigative reports about his client's case in Fresno County Superior Court.

Outside court, Capozzi declined to specify what the new reports say. But he did say they were not about his client. Instead, he said, they could shed light on the prosecution's case.

Capozzi said he plans to outline his concerns in a legal motion within the next few days.

Singh, 43, is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill former business partner Rama Kant Dawar. His trial was scheduled to begin later this month, but Capozzi’s concerns prompted Judge Jeff Bird to delay it to mid-February.

Police said Singh wanted Dawar dead after a lawsuit between the two men was decided in Dawar's favor. Working as a police informant, Joe Luis Yzaguirre Jr. secretly recorded Singh talking about wanting to hire a hitman to kill Dawar, police say.

Capozzi, however, contends that Singh was set up by Yzaguirre in a scheme to to put Singh out of business. Singh and Yzaguirre have competing limousine services in Fresno.

This is the second time in recent months that Singh's trial has been delayed.

It was supposed to begin Nov. 30, but on the eve of trial, Yzaguirre was shot in Clovis. He called police from a vacant home on Herndon Avenue between Armstrong and Temperance avenues. His shooting remains unsolved.

The next day, Judge Gary D. Hoff postponed the start of the trial until the end of January.

This morning, Capozzi said his client had nothing to do with Yzaguirre getting shot; Singh has been in jail since his arrest in April last year.

Capozzi also said he still hasn't received police reports regarding Yzaguirre's shooting nor have prosecutors discussed it with him. Capozzi said he believes the details about the shooting could play a key role in Singh's trial.

Singh's next hearing is Jan. 31. His trial is scheduled to begin around Feb. 14.