At what point would they file for a change of venue. If he wants to show abuse or other negative behavior of the dead husband, they are going to have to make him out to be the villian. That may not go over well in the community they live d in.
It sounds like the TBI doesn't think abuse was involved, and they already know the motive that Mary Winkler gave. Quoting TBI spokesperson Jennifer Johnson from Larry King Live last night:
JOHNSON: I think everything about this case is puzzling. I don't think there's any information that could come out that would really make sense of it all and I think that's really where the public is right now. They want some reasonable explanation for this and I think we all have to brace ourselves for the fact that it may never come. They never get a reasonable explanation or a satisfactory answer.
CALLER: I have a question. Could the motive have been that Mr. Winkler could have been abusing his wife or children in any way?
JOHNSON: A lot of people have asked that question and from the very moment that we came upon the scene we actually looked and there's no history of domestic violence. As I said earlier, we can't share the motive but I think, you know, the history does sort of speak for itself.
Talking about a change of venue is getting way ahead of the process. Thursday morning, there will be (1) a preliminary hearing, to determine probable cause (or not) for proceeding to a grand jury which will then, if so charged, determine probable cause (or not) for proceeding to trial, and (2) a bond hearing, to determine, if and how much bail will be set. It is -0- right now.
It will be months before there might be a trial.
Well, I don't know what the law in Tennessee is regarding change of venue, but if like most places, it won't be done until some time after formal arraignment after she is bound over at Preliminary hearing. And it will take some time for the defense team to build a case for change of venue. And I don't know...is Selmer the county seat for that county? If not, the trial will most likely be at the county seat. It may be some distance like here in Oklahoma in some counties. They will have to show that the whole jury pool is so contaminated with pre-trial publicity...that she cannot get a fair trial. That is tough. But not as tough in small counties. Anyway...it is too early to be filing for that type of matter.