NORTHWOOD — A Worth County District Court judge has denied a request to restrict photo cameras and video cameras during the trial of the Northwood man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in August.

Judge Colleen Weiland issued the order Friday, reaffirming her August order granting the expanded media coverage permitted under Iowa law.

“The court cannot find that expanded media coverage will materially interfere with the rights of the parties to a fair trial such that a blanket denial of that coverage should enter,” Weiland wrote in her order.

Tyrone Washington Jr., 39, and his public defender Susan Flander argued last week that area media reports from the Mason City Globe Gazette, the Des Moines Register, KIMT, KAAL and KTTC have called Washington an “abusive person,” and said there is a concern that his family and friends will be singled out and threatened because of the publicity of the case.

They attributed news reports from area media outlets as being prejudicial and of convicting Washington of a crime before his trial.

Washington faces a charge of first-degree murder in the Aug. 5 stabbing death of Justina Marie Smith, 30, in Swensrud Park.

Washington and Flander are awaiting a decision about whether Weiland will grant a change of venue in the case. They argued because Worth County is a predominantly white community, Washington, who is black, could not get a fair trial.

Washington said he has been called racist names and other African-Americans in town have been threatened since he was arrested.

Laura Roan with the Iowa Attorney General’s Office has argued it would be premature to change the venue and noted that through jury selection, jurors can be selected who have not yet formed their opinion about the case.

Washington pleaded not guilty to his charge in September.