Joran van der Sloot, the suspected killer in the Natalee Holloway case, has been granted an extension in connection with fraud and extortion charges in Alabama.

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gray Borden allowed an extension, marking the second extension requested by van der Sloot, Al.com reports.

“Given the defendant’s need to adequately prepare his defense and to make an informed decision on whether to enter a guilty plea or proceed to trial, the court finds that the ends of justice served by extending the pretrial deadlines and granting a continuance outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial,’’ Borden wrote in his order.

Prosecutors did not object to the 45-day extension. A pretrial motions deadline has been set for November 13.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, a Birmingham grand jury indicted van der Sloot on June 30, 2010. Natalee Holloway’s mother paid van der Sloot in 2010 for details about the location of her daughter’s remains, but authorities say van der Sloot gave false information and failed to honor his promise, which led to a U.S. grand jury indicting him on charges of extortion and wire fraud that same year.

It wasn’t until earlier this year that the defendant was extradited from a Peru prison to Alabama to face charges.

Holloway vanished in 2005 while vacationing in Aruba days after graduating high school. Her remains have never been found, but van der Sloot, a Dutch national who lived on the Caribbean island, has long been suspected of playing a role in the disappearance of the American teen, who was 18 at the time. He has not been charged, however, with her murder.

Meanwhile, van der Sloot remains behind bars at the Shelby County Jail in Alabama. Check back for updates.

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[Feature Photo: Joran van der Sloot/Peruvian mug shot, left, Natalee Holloway/FBI]