(Mobile, Ala.) A former University of South Alabama student is on trial for murder in a Mobile County courtroom.
Jurors heard opening arguments Monday in the case of Brandon Ajizadeh.
The discovery of the body of 19-year-old James Franklin Dean was ruled a murder, the first in 30 years at USA.
Dean was found July 10, 2011, inside Ajizadeh's Delta 6 dorm room.
Dean had been stabbed more than 25 times.
Police said then that Ajizadeh confessed to the killing.
Dean was not a USA student.
Just before the trial began Monday, Local 16 talked with Ajizadeh's attorney, Jeff Deen, who told me his client, at the time of Dean's death, was surrounded by people who were using him for money and other gifts.
"He had to deal with them taking a lot of things his family would give him, especially his father. And they would take for their own benefit money, clothes he'd give them, let them take his car. So he was pretty much being taken advantage of."
When we asked Ajizadeh's attorney who he believes killed Dean, and how it happened, he would only say, "we'll see what the evidence produces."
The trial resumes Tuesday morning.
