Blevins Takes The Stand

• {Huntington, West Virginia}...Defense attorneys continued presenting evidence Tuesday in the trial of 25 year old Jesse Blevins of Huntington. Blevins is being tried on charges that he fatally stabbed and hid the body of his girlfriend, 23 year old Elizabeth Cotton, who died July 28, 2009 at the home of Blevins’ father on Jackson Avenue. Cotton's body was hidden in a basement of the house. Tuesday afternoon, Blevins took the stand to testify about his relationship with Cotton and what happened the day of her death. Blevins described his relationship with Cotton as one filled with arguments, threats and battery, saying that she was combative both verbally and physically. Blevins testified to numerous times where he called 911 asking for police to respond because Cotton had become combative. He said, the night of Cotton's death, he told her he was dating another girl, and Cotton began hitting him and grabbed a knife. Blevins testified that he ran to the bathroom and tried to barricade the door but Cotton entered the bathroom, and they fought as he tried to take the knife away from her, and then he stabbed her. Defense attorneys argue the killing was an act of self-defense, while prosecutors argue it was murder.