FARGO (AP) - Lawyers for the man accused of killing a University of North Dakota student want the government to release all evidence by the end of the year.

Robert Hoy, the court-appointed attorney for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., is asking U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson to set a Dec. 31 deadline for final reports in the death of Dru Sjodin.

An autopsy on Sjodin was conducted more than 20 months ago.

"Defense counsel is concerned the government labs are not giving this case the priority it deserves, and final reports may not be available until shortly before trial," Hoy wrote in a motion filed on Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said he doesn't expect the request to cause a problem.

"I don't view this as a particularly contentious issue," Wrigley said. "I expect to be able to arrive at an agreement as to when this can be done."

Rodriguez, 52, of Crookston, Minn., is accused of kidnapping resulting in the death of Sjodin, 22, of Pequot Lakes, Minn. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled next summer, and prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

Richard Ney, a Wichita, Kan., attorney who specializes in death penalty cases, has filed several motions opposing capital punishment in the case.