UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A postponed hearing Thursday spelled frustration for a local murder defendant.

When his attorney told him his felony hearing wouldn't happen, murder defendant Omar Thompson, accused of shooting two people at 1527 Oneida Street in Utica over the weekend, was visibly disappointed.

"He is baffled as to how he was identified as the assailant in this case, so he's anxious to have this felony examination," said Mark Curley, defense attorney for Thompson.

A felony exam is like a mini trial - witnesses testify, but at the end, the judge decides whether or not there's enough evidence to hand the case over to a grand jury for a possible indictment, or, formal charge.

What formal charge binds a defendant to stand trial for the crime.

In this case, it's a crime the defendant says was committed by someone else

"Because he wasn't the assailant; he wasn't at the scene when it happened," Curley said. "He doesn't know either of the victims either by name or description, and can't figure out how they would claim to know him."

All questions that might be answered in Utica City Court at 9 a.m. on Friday when the felony exam in Thompson's case takes place.

Thompson is accused of shooting Mark Dukett of Camden to death at 1527 Oneida Street in Utica over the weekend.

Jeanne O'Brien survived her injuries and will likely talk about the ordeal on the witness stand on Friday.

The Oneida County District Attorney declined comment, saying it'd be inappropriate to do so with a hearing pending.