The preliminary hearing for a University City man accused of killing his 7-month-old daughter 10 months ago will be heard on Feb. 7 after his attorney told a judge on Jan. 18 that the medical examiner’s report had just arrived.

Attorney Brian E. Watkins, who represents Jaime Javier Santillanes, 38, told San Diego Superior Court Judge Roderick Shelton the report was given to him on Jan. 17, implying that it was late.

The report is believed to show a cause of death for Genevieve Santillanes, who was taken to a hospital on March 18, 2023, following a call about a non-breathing infant from a townhome in the 3700 block of La Jolla Village Drive.

The preliminary hearing had been set for Jan. 18 and Deputy District Attorney Erin Casey opposed a delay. Casey said the medical examiner was not a witness and she was ready to present her case.

Watkins said he wanted more time to read the medical examiner’s report and Shelton granted the delay until Feb. 7. Afterward, Casey declined to comment on the report, saying the details would come out in the hearing.

The San Diego Police Child Abuse Unit talked to the parents of the infant. A police press release later said it was determined the infant had “sustained serious traumatic internal injuries that were indicative of physical child abuse.”

The release further said that detectives “worked closely with medical personnel who have specialized training in child abuse-related injuries to determine exactly what happened.”

“Detectives have learned this incident appears to be a tragic domestic-related incident where the infant’s father inflicted the fatal injuries upon his daughter,” the release said.

The infant died three days after being in the hospital and Jaime Santillanes was arrested on March 23.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault upon a child that ends in death. He remains in the South Bay Detention Facility without bail.