Witness testimonies begin for Shawnee Krall trial

DICKINSON, N.D. ( KXNET ) — The trial for the man accused of killing his former roommate finally got underway in Dickinson on Tuesday, July 30th. And Shawnee Krall’s attorney already asked the judge to declare a mistrial.

Judge Stacy Louser denied the defense’s request but also decided to throw out a possible testimony from a former inmate who claims Krall talked about the murder while in jail. Krall is on trial for the murder of Alice Queirolo. She disappeared just days before Christmas in 2020.

After she went missing, police later found her body, in the trunk of a vehicle. However, that evidence is not admissible in the trial because the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled police failed to obtain a search warrant of the vehicle beforehand.

On Tuesday, Queirolo’s mother, who lives in Oregon, took the stand. She testified that she kept in daily contact with her daughter, but got a call from Queirolo’s workplace, on December 21st, saying she didn’t show up for her shift.

After a co-worker of Queirolo’s went to her home to check on her, but got no response, he called police. Minot Police Officer, Krysta Becker, told jurors what she discovered during that welfare check.

The prosecutor in the case asked Becker, “You said there was a phone next to the candle?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Becker.

“What did you do with the phone?”

“At that time, it was just sitting on the countertop by the candle that was burning,” explained Becker.

“Now, when you said you cleared the house, there was no person present, is that right?” asked the prosecutor

“That’s correct,” said Becker.

Both the defense and the prosecution are expected to call more witnesses as the trial is set to continue through Friday, August 2nd.

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