Motions heard in Mark Becker case; trial still set for Feb. 8

UPDATE: The first-degree murder trial of Mark Becker, 24, accused of killing Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas, will start Feb. 8 in Butler County District Court.

During a pretrial hearing today at the Cerro Gordo County Law Enforcement Center in Mason City, Becker's attorney, the prosecutor and judge discussed some motions that hadn't been addressed. Most of the motions regarded legal procedures and rules of evidence.

Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown asked Second Judicial District Judge Stephen Carroll to rule on witnesses that the defense may call who have no first-hand knowledge or expertise of the shooting. The defense didn't conduct any depositions, so Brown said he didn't know who the defense might call to testify.

Brown made his motion in light of the unknown witness list.

Susan Flander, Becker's attorney, told the judge Brown could probably "figure it out," referring to her witness list.

The state's other motion concerned information about Becker's religious beliefs, and mental issues prior to the shooting, that might be raised during trial testimony. Such information would be irrelevant, Brown said.

Flander said the mental issues could be relevant to the insanity defense, which Becker is relying upon.

Neither attorney mentioned the specifics about religious beliefs or practices mentioned in the state's motion.

Carroll said he would have to rule on the admissibility of testimony as it comes up during the trial.

Brown also filed a motion on a conditional change of venue, but said he only filed it in case a fair and impartial jury couldn't be seated in Butler County.

Jury selection in the trial will begin 9 a.m. Feb. 8.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier provided live coverage of today's hearing. Check out a replay of their live coverage

HERE.