A judge ruled this morning on a handful of pre-trial motions in the upcoming murder trial of Kansas State University professor Thomas E. Murray, but he left the most controversial issues unresolved, including whether evidence of Murray’s “controlling behaviors” toward the victim can be used in court.

Another matter left undecided was whether crime scene detectives’ testimony about the use of luminol — a chemical that glows in the dark when it comes in contact with traces of blood — can be excluded from court, if police weren’t able to document it with photos.

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Douglas County District Court Judge Robert Fairchild said he would rule later on both issues.

Fairchild ruled that members of victim Carmin D. Ross’ family must be excluded from court while fellow family members are testifying and during open statements. And he limited the kinds of questions prosecutors can ask a Riley County detective about Murray’s body language during interrogation.

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