Day 1 of pre-trial motions centered on a pivotal battle over domestic violence evidence. The prosecution sought to introduce a sweeping 17-year timeline of alleged abuse incidents (1977–1994) as pattern evidence showing motive for murder, framing the killing as culmination of years of controlling behavior. The defense fought aggressively to exclude most of this evidence as remote, hearsay, and prejudicial character assassination. By day's end, the prosecution had introduced a domestic violence expert and presented detailed exhibits including the famous 911 tape, photographs, and letters, while judges signaled uncertainty about some evidence but continued deliberation.

• Sojourn shelter's motion to quash subpoena rejected; Nicole's domestic violence records ordered produced.
• Defense attorney Gerald Uelmen launched sustained legal assault on 59 alleged prior abuse incidents, attacking admissibility on hearsay, remoteness, and relevance grounds.
• Prosecution framed abuse as 'transactional evidence'—the killing 'took 17 years to commit'—establishing motive for murder.
• Domestic violence expert Donald Dutton introduced; debate erupted over Battered Woman Syndrome expert admissibility.
• Prosecution presented detailed chronology with photographs, apology letters, prenuptial agreement, and 911 tape transcript.