FAYETTEVILLE -– The trial of the man accused of killing five year old Shaniya Davis of Fayetteville is set to start Monday, but not before some pre-trial issues are cleared up.Mario McNeill could face the death penalty in the 2009 kidnapping, rape and murder of Davis.  The story made national headlines at the time.

At a motions hearing Friday morning, Judge Jim Ammons cleared the courtroom. That motions hearing is set to continue on Monday, and opening statements are set to being later in the day. It is not clear what issue is being discussed.

McNeill faces multiple charges. Among them are  first-degree murder, first-degree rape of a child, first-degree kidnapping, human trafficking with a child victim, sexual servitude with a child victim, sexual offense of a child and indecent liberties with a child charges related to Davis' death.

Police said the girl's body was dumped just off N.C. Highway 87 near the Lee-Harnett County line. The trial could go on for a month or longer.