Trial begins for man accused in fatal USA stabbing

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - The trial for a man accused of fatally stabbing his friend at the University of South Alabama began with prosecutors recounting the incident that left a 19-year-old man wounded 24 times.

Brandon Ajizadeh was arrested in the July 2011 death of James Franklin Dean and appeared in court Monday.

AL.com (http://bit.ly/Xk3pF8) reports Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Jo Beth Murphy told jurors the stabbing may have stemmed from 21-year-old Ajizadeh being jealous of Dean's longtime friend Keenan Henderson.

Ajizadeh's attorney, Jeff Deen, told the court his client was being taken advantage of by Henderson and Dean, and was only considered a friend of theirs if he bought them things and let them use his car and cell phone.

Deen is set to cross examine Henderson Tuesday.

Information from: Press-Register, http://www.al.com/press-register/

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.