An attorney representing a man accused of murdering two women and attempting to kill a third in Southern California has suggested to jurors that actor Ashton Kutcher’s testimony could point to an alternative suspect.

During closing arguments, lawyer Daniel Nardoni sought to sway the jury by proposing that two other individuals might have been involved in the stabbing deaths for which 43-year-old Michael Gargiulo stands trial.

In the case of Ashley Ellerin, who was tragically killed in her Hollywood residence in 2001, Nardoni emphasized the significance of Kutcher’s testimony, labeling him as a crucial witness alongside two others.

Describing Kutcher as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Nardoni asserted, “Ashton Kutcher is a celebrity star in the entertainment industry, and I believe Ashton Kutcher is the star witness in this case.”

At that time, Kutcher was known for his role in “That ’70s Show” and had recently appeared in the movie “Dude, Where’s My Car?”

before achieving widespread fame following his marriage to Demi Moore.

Ellerin, a 22-year-old student studying fashion design, had a casual acquaintance with Kutcher through mutual friends.

On the evening of her untimely demise, both Kutcher and Ellerin, who were newly single, had plans to go out together.

The last conversation between Kutcher and Ellerin transpired at 8:24 p.m., during which Kutcher informed Ellerin of his delay while she mentioned just finishing her shower.

According to Nardoni, Ellerin’s apartment manager, an aspiring actor, revealed that he was engaged in a romantic relationship with Ellerin and was present in the house when Kutcher phoned.

Nardoni insinuated to the jurors that the call might have provoked a violent reaction.

A neighbor passing by Ellerin’s residence en route to a nearby dog park testified hearing two screams emanating from her house around 8:30 p.m., coinciding with Kutcher’s call, leading Nardoni to assert that this was the likely moment of Ellerin’s demise.

During his testimony, Kutcher recounted arriving at Ellerin’s apartment later that night, receiving no response upon knocking, observing what appeared to be wine stains inside, and assuming she had left without him.

Nardoni clarified that his objective was not to establish an alternate perpetrator for Ellerin’s murder but rather to cast doubt on Gargiulo’s culpability by presenting another plausible suspect.

Employing a similar strategy regarding the second murder charge against his client – the killing of 32-year-old mother Maria Bruno in El Monte in 2005 – Nardoni implied that her estranged husband, who was the last person to see her alive, could be responsible.

By displaying a graphic crime scene photograph of Bruno, who suffered multiple stab wounds akin to Ellerin, Nardoni highlighted the removal of her bre-sts and bre-st implants as indicative of a deeply rooted animosity.

Nardoni contended that no physical evidence linking Gargiulo to Ellerin’s murder was uncovered, emphasizing the absence of DNA, fingerprints, or hair samples.

He acknowledged the discovery of a shoe-covering bootie containing both Gargiulo’s and the victim’s DNA outside Bruno’s apartment complex, where they both resided.

Gargiulo, who resided in close proximity to or had connections with the victims in all instances, also faces charges for the attempted murder of Michelle Murphy in 2008, where DNA evidence from the attacker matched that of Gargiulo collected during a separate investigation.

As deliberations loom, the prosecution lauded Murphy’s resilience for aiding in uncovering the truth behind the murders, emphasizing the need for individual assessment of each case.

Defense attorney Dale Rubin referenced a defense psychologist’s diagnosis of Gargiulo with dissociative personality disorder, suggesting that Gargiulo might have been disoriented during the attack on Murphy.

Gargiulo’s arrest following the Murphy incident led to charges for the California killings and the murder of Tricia Pacaccio in Illinois, a case that remained unsolved until witnesses came forward after a televised report in 2011.

Diane Pacaccio expressed enduring commitment to seeking justice for her daughter, reflecting on the ongoing pursuit of closure.

The impending deliberations and prosecution’s rebuttal hold the key to the final verdict in this high-profile trial.