Dickinson, ND — Shawnee Krall, who was found guilty in the murder of Alice Queirolo, is facing an expedited sentencing originally set for February 2025. District Court Judge Stacy Louser moved the date up to September 30 after Krall refused to cooperate with compulsory pre-sentencing investigations.
Following a jury trial that concluded on August 2, Krall continually resisted participating in the presentence investigation, crucial for assessing sentencing recommendations. This defiance prompted Parole and Probation Officer Kayla Haugeberg to inform the court of Krall’s noncompliance, noting his refusal to sign necessary information release forms.
During a hearing on August 16, Krall voiced his belief that his due process rights were violated by the trial’s outcome. He asserted that participating in the sentencing investigation could potentially harm his case and declared his intention to appeal the conviction. However, Judge Louser reiterated the necessity of sentencing before any appeal could be pursued.
Further complicating matters, Haugeberg disclosed in a recent letter to the court that despite another meeting with Krall at the Ward County Jail, he remained indecisive about participating in the investigation, citing a lack of access to a legal library to fully understand the process and explore alternatives.
Given Krall’s history of noncooperation, as noted by Louser who cited previous instances of Krall ignoring court orders and bail conditions, the judge decided there was sufficient cause to proceed without further delay to ensure justice in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Krall, unsatisfied with the legal representation by court-appointed attorney Stormy Vickers, has taken steps to challenge the conduct of his defense. In a handwritten appeal submitted to the North Dakota Supreme Court, he criticized Vickers for allegedly failing to investigate a trial witness and not preparing rebuttal witnesses as requested. He also cited judicial error, marking his third attempt to have Vickers dismissed as his attorney.
In response, Vickers has requested to withdraw from representing Krall, propelled by the repeated insistence from his client to terminate his counsel services. Vickers has expressed readiness to provide more detailed reasons for his withdrawal in a private court hearing if necessary. His motion to withdraw will be reviewed in a forthcoming hearing scheduled for September 24.
As the case hurries towards a resolution, the legal entanglements highlight the complexities of the judicial process, especially when dealing with uncooperative defendants and the burden placed on the legal system to balance procedural rules against defendants’ rights.