Judge rejects Krall's request to dismiss his lawyer

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – A judge denied a request to dismiss a man convicted of killing his roommate in Minot in late 2020.

Shawnee Krall appeared for a status conference in Minot District Court on Friday.

Earlier this month, a Stark County jury convicted Krall, 31, of murder in connection with the December 2020 death of Alice Quierolo in Minot.

The trial was moved from Minot to Dickinson after the court was unable to find a jury pool in Ward County that was unfamiliar with the case.

At Friday's hearing, Judge Stacy Louser denied a motion by Krall to dismiss Stormy Vickers, who represented him in court. Krall argued that he had not received adequate advice from Vickers.

Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Sorgen, who prosecuted the case, defended Vickers, saying he had represented Krall well within the law.

Throughout the hearing, Krall maintained his innocence and called the trial a “wrongful verdict.”

At the hearing, Louser also gave Krall a week to decide whether he would cooperate with a pre-trial investigation (PSI) after it was revealed that he would not answer questions related to it.

A PSI is typically required before sentencing in violent crimes and takes into account factors such as a person's life history, criminal record, and other factors.

Louser said if Krall cooperates, they will stick with the sentencing date of February 18. If he doesn't, they will only have his criminal record and will move his sentencing up to September 30.

He remains in custody at the Ward County Jail.

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