Ashton Kutcher has rarely spoken publicly about the night his ex-girlfriend, model Ashley Ellerin, was brutally murdered by a suspected serial killer. But soon he will be forced to drag up the memories as he takes to the witness stand in her alleged killer’s trial.
Pretty Ashley was brutally stabbed 35 times in a frenzied attack at her Hollywood apartment on 21 February 2001. The 22-year-old had been due to go on a date with Ashton that very same night.
Alleged serial killer Michael Gargiula, 34, is now standing trial for Ashley’s murder, as well as the slaying of two other young women and the attempted murder of a fourth.
Prosecutors say DNA evidence links him to all four crimes.
Ashton’s police testimony lays bare the horrific details of that night. The actor, then 23, had received a call from Ashley earlier in the evening inviting him out on a date.
He turned her down but promised he would pop round to visit her later on in the evening.
After trying to call her twice he arrived at her home at 10.45pm, but there was no answer at the door.
He peered through the window and saw what he believed was red wine spilt on the kitchen floor. Assuming Ashley was angry at him for turning the earlier date down, he left and returned home.
In fact, the ‘red wine’ on the floor was blood and Ashley’s body was lying just metres away, brutally hacked to death.
Alleged killer Gargiula knew Ashley and was said to have been ‘obsessed’ with her. Ashton’s evidence will be essential for proving the time and place of the murder.
Picture Credit: David Shankbone on Twitter