A Manatee County judge has denied a change of venue motion by Keishanna Thomas' defense team.
Thomas is accused of abusing and then killing her daughter, Janiya, in 2015. Investigators said the 11-year-old's body was found in a freezer in the family's Bradenton home.
The defense team said pre-trial publicity will make it hard for Thomas to receive a fair trial in Manatee County.
On Tuesday, they requested the trial be moved out of Manatee County.
Janiya's family and friends are expected to attend the hearing which starts Tuesday afternoon.
Thomas' trial is expected to start in August.
