Day 1: David Trebilcock Trial

It was day one of the trial of David Trebilcock. He is the Sherrill man accused of stabbing and killing his ex-girlfriend's six-year-old daughter back in July. He is charged with murder in the 2nd degree, assault and possession of a weapon.

Eyewitness News Reporter Jennifer Lee was in court covering that trial and has the latest for us tonight.

It was an emotional first day as family members listened to Allison Belius, the mother of six-year-old Lauren Belius and the first witness to take the stand.  

The trial began with opening statements by both the prosecution and defense. The prosecution says Trebilcock intentionally killed young Lauren, fully knowing what he was doing was wrong.

The defense, however, says Trebilcock was suffering from a serious mental illness at the time of the crime.

"It was a romantic relationship and a friendship. He was my best friend too," explains Allison Belius.

As Allison took the stand, she describes what kind of man Trebilcock was, calling him "caring and loving."

"He would go everywhere with us. He would go to the mall and he would go shopping with us. He taught the kids how to fish over the summer," says Allison.

But, Allison also recalls the time of Trebilcock's troubling past. She says Trebilcock told her that he was a sex addict, had cyber-sex with multiple women and even had sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl when he was 19 years old. He even admitted to cheating on Allison when they first started dating.

Allison went on to talk about the night of July 19th when she woke up to screaming. She says she ran to her daughter's bedroom, but Trebilcock barricaded himself in the girls' room with a dresser.

"I saw him standing on the ladder of the girls' bunk bed. He was at the head of the bed where Lauren was and was stabbing her repeatedly.  I fought with David trying to get him off of her. I asked him why are you doing this why are you killing my baby. He said she's not a baby. She's bad," she says.

Allison kept pushing him away from Lauren. She says Trebilcock then started cutting his own wrists-- blocking the door so no one could get out of the room.

At one point Trebilcock came up behind Allison as she was giving CPR to her daughter and tried stabbing Lauren again. Then he tried to turn the knife and stab Allison.

Other witnesses, such as neighbors and police officers were also called to the stand. Sgt. Christopher Bailey of the City of Sherrill Police says he received a call for a bad stab wound.

When he arrived at the scene he says he found Trebilcock on the floor in the bedroom-- breathing and saying" if I did not kill her I will try again... He told me how Jesus and God told him to do it and that he was sorry," explained Sgt. Bailey.

For day 2, the defense is expected to bring doctors to the stand, talking about the mental state of Trebilcock.

He waived his rights to a jury and his fate is now in the hands of Judge Michael Dwyer. The defense is set to wrap up by Friday.