DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ A Des Moines doctor charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly prescribing large amounts of narcotic painkillers to eight patients who fatally overdosed is seeking a delay in his preliminary hearing.

Dr. Daniel Baldi (BALD'-ee) was charged earlier this month. One of the eight patients identified in court papers was Paul Gray, a founder of the heavy metal band Slipknot. He died of an overdose in 2010 at an Urbandale hotel.

Defense attorney Guy Cook on Wednesday filed a motion in Polk County District Court seeking a delay in Baldi's preliminary hearing that's set for Friday. In the motion, Cook seeks a delay, citing among other reasons, time to gather evidence that may be presented during a preliminary hearing.