GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A 12-member jury and two alternates were seated Monday in the trial of Santa Fe Community College student Pedro Bravo, who is accused of killing his friend, Christian Aguilar, a University of Florida student, in September 2012.
Investigators believe Aguilar was poisoned and killed in a car before his body was dumped in the field. Aguilar's remains were found at the Gulf Hammock Hunting Club in neighboring Levy County 22 days after he disappeared.
Bravo faces seven charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, poisoning and the mishandling of human remains. He's also charged with lying to police, tampering with evidence and providing false reports.
Prosecutors spent much of their time Tuesday morning telling jurors about what evidence they will hear in the case and the trail they believe leads back to Bravo, who has been in jail ever since his initial arrest.
Erika Friman, the ex-girlfriend at the center of the case, is slated to testify in the trial which is expected to last two weeks.
Jurors will see the graphic images of Aguilar's remains and Internet searches in which Bravo allegedly performed, about the effects of specific drugs on people.
The state is not seeking the death penalty, a decision that State Attorney Bill Cervone made months ago in consultation with Aguilar's family.
Agular's father, Carlos, told WCJB he, his wife and son were attending the opening days of the trial.
This article will be updated throughout the day with details from opening statements.