Woman accused of killing fiance during kayaking trip appears in court

CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (WABC) -- A New York woman who police say killed her fiance during a kayaking trip was back in court Monday.

Angelika Graswald is accused of killing Vincent Viafore on the Hudson River in April.

She appeared in Orange County court for a conference as sealed motions were filed by the defense. Graswald is currently in jail awaiting trial on murder and manslaughter charges.

She is being blocked from receiving any of her fiance's life insurance payouts until all legal matters are resolved, including any civil suits.

Graswald was indicted on second-degree murder charges in May. At the time, bail was set at $3 million for the woman, who prosecutors say was beneficiary of Viafore's life insurance policy.

State police said inconsistencies in Graswald's statements led to her arrest. She originally told troopers she and Viafore were kayaking April 19 when his boat capsized in rough waters near the town of Cornwall-On-Hudson around 7:30 p.m.

"I saw him struggling a little bit, he was trying to figure out how to paddle the waves, because they were getting crazy," she said. "And then I just saw him flip."

Graswald was found in the water by a boater and rescued. She was treated and released from a local hospital for hypothermia. Both kayaks were located and recovered. Viafore's body also was later found.