. >> the case set for trial today is the state of north dakota versus nikki sue melissa entzel. ms. i's state-appointed defense attorney, thomas glass, a well respected trial lawyer, surprises some court watchers. >> defense opening statement? i'll defer to a later date, your honor. >> mr. glass, if you'd like to do an opening statement now. >> reserving, your honor. >> all right. thank you. >> he's going to defer. no opening statement? >> in all of my years of criminal trial coverage, i have not seen an attorney elect not to make an opening statement. >> well, okay. maybe he's got a strategy there that he's not going to show his hand. >> nikki's attorney declined to comment for our story. >> ms. lawyer, you may call your first witness when you're ready. >> with that, the prosecution is off and running, calling more than 40 witnesses. >> then i proceeded to see a body laying on the floor. potential indicators of maybe an ignitable liquid having been put on the bed and potentially on the floor. >> shotgun wounds to the head. >> the prosecutor, julie lawyer, shows the jury more than 30