Ashton Kutcher Testifies at Woman's Murder Trial

The actor was 'freaking out' over fingerprints he left behind
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 29, 2019 5:10 PM CDT
Ashton Kutcher Testifies at Woman's Murder Trial
Ashton Kutcher tesitifies in the murder trial of Michael Gargiulo in Los Angeles Superior Court, Wednesday, May 29, 2019.   (Frederick M. Brown/Pool Photo via AP)

Ashton Kutcher took the stand Wednesday in the "Hollywood Ripper" murder trial, testifying about the night of Feb. 21, 2001, when he arrived to pick up Ashley Ellerin, who was supposed to be his date to a Grammys after-party. The 22-year-old didn't answer her door, and Kutcher looked through a side window and saw what looked like spilled red wine on the floor. Assuming she had "bailed" on him because "I was late and she was upset," he left—and found out the next day Ellerin had been murdered, found dead outside her bathroom with more than 47 stab wounds. Prosecutors believe what Kutcher saw was actually Ellerin's blood.

After hearing the news, Kutcher said he realized, "My fingerprints are on this door and I was freaking out. I told [an officer], 'Let me tell you what happened,'" Kutcher said, per People. Kutcher, 41, testified for about 40 minutes. TMZ notes that he "appeared relaxed on the stand" as he went through the timeline of the night. Michael Gargiulo is charged with murdering Ellerin as well as two other women and attempting to murder another. Authorities say he was a "serial sexual-thrill killer" who stalked and then murdered women who lived near him. (Much more on the case here.)

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