The man accused of stabbing a woman to death in Northwood in August 2013 is slated for a hearing Friday prior to his trial later this month.

At the hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse in Mason City, the prosecution and the defense will discuss any outstanding motions.

Tyrone Robin Washington Jr.’s trial is slated to begin Oct. 20 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. It was moved from Worth County because of pretrial publicity and concerns about racial prejudices of the community.

Washington, 40, is accused of stabbing Justina Marie Smith, 30, to death on the morning of Aug. 5, 2013, in Swensrud Park before he reportedly fled the park in Smith’s 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.

According to an autopsy, Smith died from what authorities described as “multiple sharp-force injuries.”

Washington was Smith’s live-in boyfriend, but Smith had requested a restraining order the month before after Washington allegedly assaulted and strangled her.

Washington, represented by Charles Kenville, a public defender from the Fort Dodge office, is claiming self-defense.

He faces one count of first-degree murder.