Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel face charges of involuntary manslaughter and keeping a vicious dog that killed Diane Whipple last year. Knoller also is charged with second-degree murder.

Whipple was killed Jan. 26, 2001, by two massive presa canarios that chased her down and left her bleeding to death in the hallway of her luxurious Pacific Heights apartment building.

The judge said he may rule Tuesday on whether sex-related material involving the dogs can be used at trial and on whether to grant Knoller and Noel, both lawyers, separate trials.

Trial is scheduled to begin next week in Los Angeles.

Knoller and Noel sought to be tried separately, given their damaging comments and actions in the case.

Knoller argues that comments made by her husband to neighbors and the media, including calling Whipple a "timorous mousy blonde," will prejudice jurors against her.

Noel says he was not present during the attack and that it was his wife who failed to muzzle or control the dogs that day. She also failed to call paramedics and seemed calm throughout the incident, he said.

But prosecutor Jim Hammer argued that Knoller and Noel "together actively encouraged the violent tendencies of these dogs."

Sex-related testimony given to the grand jury has not been released to the public. A search warrant released last year said prosecutors were investigating whether the couple was having sex with dogs.

Nedra Ruiz, Knoller's lawyer, vehemently denied any evidence of inappropriate sexual activity. But Hammer argued Monday that such behavior may have led to the fatal mauling of Whipple.

Noel and Knoller also sought to exclude testimony regarding their adoption of state prison inmate Paul "Cornfed" Schneider or Schneider's involvement in a prison gang. Schneider and Dale Bretches were accused of running a dog breeding ring from prison. The two dogs that killed Whipple were among their dogs.

A tearful Sharon Smith, Whipple's domestic partner, said before the start of Monday's hearing that Knoller and Noel never apologized for the fatal attack.

"They've said it themselves, that they don't care," she said.