Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Jacksonville, FL: Death-penalty trial opens for Jacksonville man accused of stabbing estranged wife 40 times

By David Hunt
Prosecutors told a jury that a man stabbed his estranged wife 40 times after beating her sister with a tire iron as a death-penalty murder trial unfolded in a Duval County courtroom Tuesday.

Lesly Jean-Philippe, 24, is on trial for the slaying of his wife, Elkie Jean-Philippe, 24.

Prosecutors said the case was cold, premeditated and prolonged. One of the stab wounds pierced the woman’s cranium. Jean-Philippe is accused of posing as a pizza delivery man to barge into his wife’s Southside apartment on Aug. 26, 2009, as he snapped into a rage and beat her sister with a tire iron before stabbing her.

Trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday before Circuit Judge Adrian G. Soud.

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