Pre-trial motions began Monday in the case of a Clovis bio-chemist accused of killing her estranged husband and stuffing his body in a barrel of acid.

Larissa Schuster's case was moved to Van Nuys County in Southern California to ensure she receives a fair trial.

Although opening statements won't start until October 22, the initial stages of jury selection are about to get underway in Van Nuys.

In Fresno, Judge Wayne Ellison is ruling on a handful of motions--to ensure as soon as the case is officially moved--it can get going without delay.

The attorneys in the case wouldn't go into detail about the recently filed motions, but Schuster's attorney Roger Nuttall did hint at part of his defense.

He asked that victim Timothy Schuster's employment records at Saint Agnes Hospital be handed over.

Nuttall believes they could illustrate "battered person's syndrome."

In the trial of co-defendant James Fagone, who was convicted for the murder, the court heard multiple angry phone messages from Schuster to her estranged husband.

The state will argue that Schuster and her young employee Fagone entered Timothy Schuster's house, where they knocked him out, and then put his body in a barrel and poured multiple bottles of acid inside.

Both the prosecution and defense say they do not plan on calling Fagone to the witness stand.

Fagone's case is currently on appeal.

The Schuster pre-trial motions hearing will continue Tuesday morning.