Elizabeth Johnson 'Baby Gabriel' trial to begin Thursday

PHOENIX - Opening statements will start Thursday morning in the trial of an Arizona woman charged with criminal wrongdoing in the disappearance of her child.

Lawyers in the case of Elizabeth Johnson were in court Wednesday addressing several motions filed in the case including an issue involving Johnson's lunch.

Attorney Marc Victor told the judge he filed the motion out of concern his client would not be able to eat during the trial.

Victor asked the court if he could provide his client with a "Powerbar" before trial or during a break.

According to a man representing the Sheriff's office, Johnson is able to receive her meals just like other inmates.

Ultimately, it appeared Judge Joseph Kreamer will allow Johnson to eat her leftover breakfast and will later discuss the "Powerbar" issue.

During the Wednesday court action, Johnson sat quietly in jailhouse stripes wearing handcuffs and at times taking notes.

Watch LIVE COVERAGE from the trial on ABC15.com and ABC15 Mobile

Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, custodial interference and attempted custodial inference in the December 2009 disappearance of her son, Gabriel.

She told the boy's father that she killed Gabriel and dumped him in a trash bin in San Antonio, Texas.

She later recanted and told police that she gave the baby to a couple at a park in the Texas city, but she never provided names.

Gabriel has never been found.

Gabriel's father, Logan McQueary is scheduled to be the first witness to take the stand.

Opening statements are expected to take up the scheduled time Thursday with McQueary taking the stand Monday morning.

Police don't know whether he is alive.