SAN ANTONIO – The capital murder trial of Jilson Avelar-Rodriguez began Tuesday morning, with opening statements and testimony.
Avelar-Rodriguez is accused in the fatal shooting of Nicholas “Trey” Milanovich, 23, and Julia Wright, 21, on Sept. 30, 2018. Police at the time called a very bloody scene.
Wright was found outside an apartment in the 8600 block of Fairhaven Street. Milanovich was found in his bed inside his apartment.
KSAT 12 is livestreaming this trial gavel to gavel. You can watch the full Day 1 in the player below, on the Smart TV app KSAT Plus and KSAT’s YouTube channel.
During the first day, jurors, as well as Avelar-Rodriguez, listened to a 911 call made by a neighbor after the couple was killed. The woman on the phone told the dispatcher she could see “a whole bunch of blood.” Listen to the full call in the video below.
Avelar-Rodriguez, a Honduran national, was arrested and charged with capital murder more than a year after the crime after some key evidence was found in his girlfriend’s apartment.
Avelar-Rodriguez was found being detained at a federal immigration detention facility in Pearsall and was later transported to the Bexar County jail.
After several years of delays, the case finally is going to trial.
This case is a non-death capital murder, which means the death penalty is not on the table.
If Jilson Avelar-Rodriguez is found guilty he would automatically be sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Jury selection takes place on Jan. 12 and opening statements and testimony begin on Jan. 16.
For a full recap of the case watch “Open Court: The trial of Jilson Avelar-Rodriguez” below: