WINONA, Minn. – The judge for the Adam Fravel murder trial has yet to decide whether to allow television cameras. Judge Nancy Buytendorp listened to arguments from both sides in a pre-trial conference Tuesday but delayed a decision. The trial, for the 2022 death of Maddi Kingsbury, a Winona mother of two young children, has attracted national attention – and it’s likely that the Court TV channel is interested in live coverage. The case was covered exhaustively by local media, most notably KTTC television of Rochester. The media attention prompted Judge Buytendorp to relocate the trial 140 miles away in Mankato. The trial is scheduled for three weeks, maybe four, in October. At Tuesday’s pre-trial conference Judge Buytendorp ruled to:

> Exclude witnesses from the courtroom – except to testify — so as not to affect each other’s testimony, a not uncommon procedure

> Seat five alternate jurors, more than the usual three.

Fravel himself was at the hearing, which was in the Winona County Courthouse. Fravel has been in the county jail next door in lieu of $3 million bail. The pre-trial conference has been scheduled to continue a second day.

Earlier: Fravel: Please bar witnesses as trial gawkers

Earlier: Fravel murder trial site chosen: Mankato

Earlier: Judge orders venue change for Fravel murder trial

Pre-trial accounts

Witnesses at the pre-trial conference, mostly friends and family of Maddi Kingsbury, related recollections and observations — some not reported before, some of them old news, and all subject to challenge when the trial begins:

> During an assault Fravel had threatened that Maddi would become like Gabby Petito – a woman who was killed in Wyoming in 2021 by her fiance.

> Maddi had called her family in hysterics after an assault in September 2021.

> Maddi had red bruising that was suspected from domestic violence.

> Maddi had shared frustration over Fravel not holding jobs very long and his erratic income.

>  Maddi was  torn about her situation with Fravel and was weighing possible ill effects on their children.

> For two weeks before she disappeared, Maddi had been in a romantic relationship with another Winona man, Spencer Sullivan.

> Maddi had apprised Fravel about her Sullivan relationship and that she was considering moving out of the townhouse where she and Fravel lived – and taking the children.

> Fravel had checked Maddi’s phone records and security cameras about the Sullivan relationship.