The trial of accused serial killer Michael Gargiulo began in Los Angeles on Thursday, as lawyers for the prosecution and the defense framed their arguments in the case of the so-called “Hollywood Ripper.”
The 43-year-old was charged with the murders of Ashley Ellerin and Maria Bruno, in addition to the attempted murder of Michelle Murphy in 2008.
In his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Dan Akemon painted a picture of a vicious killer who charmed his victims as a helpful neighbor and handyman before he broke into their homes and stabbed them to death, CNN affiliate KABC reported.
“His hobby was plotting the perfect opportunity to attack women with a knife in and around their homes,” he told the jury.
Prosecutors have compiled a list of nearly 250 potential witnesses – a list that includes actor Ashton Kutcher, who went to the home of one of Gargiulo’s alleged victims the night she was killed.
Ellerin was killed the night of February 21, 2001, court documents said. That night, according to prosecutors, Ellerin missed a date with Kutcher, who had invited her to an after-party for the Grammy Awards.
When she didn’t show up, Kutcher went to her home and peered inside.
“Mr. Kutcher looked in the window and saw what he thought was spilled wine on the floor,” Akemon told the jury, according to KABC. “We believe now the evidence will show that was actually blood, and Ashley had already been murdered.”
Defense attorney Daniel Nardoni argued prosecutors had no evidence to link Gargiulo to Ellerin’s murder.
“I can assure you at the conclusion of that presentation of evidence, you’ll not find one single bit of physical evidence attributed to Ms. Ellerin’s death,” Nardoni said, per KABC.
CNN has reached out to Nardoni for comment, but has not heard back.
Gargiulo was also linked to the murder of Bruno, whose ex-husband discovered her mutilated body in 2005, KABC said.
Prosecutors alleged Gargiulo’s first victim was 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio, who was killed in 1993 in Chicago when Gargiulo was just 17.
It wasn’t until 2008, when Gargiulo accidentally cut himself as he allegedly attacked Michelle Murphy, that investigators were able to link his DNA to the other killings, KABC reported.
Murphy is expected to testify on Monday, according to Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
“All of the victims were young, outgoing women,” Akemon said. “All of the attacks occurred at night, all of the victims suffered multiple stab wounds, all of the victims were stabbed with the knife, each of the victims was attacked in or around her home and in close proximity of Mr. Gargiulo.”