The trial of the accused killer of 28-year-old Kirkland resident Amy Hargrove began Tuesday in King County Superior Court.

Burrell Michael Cushman sat before Judge Catherine Shaffer dressed in a black suit and white dress shirt as the prosecuting and defense attorneys presented evidence during a pretrail hearing.

Cushman is accused of strangling his former girlfriend to death in her mother’s house in January 2014.

Evidence which the jury could consider involves the content of text messages between Hargrove and Cushman, testimony from friends of Hargrove concerning the couple’s relationship, as well as two initial interviews with Cushman.

The rest of the evidence that will be presented was agreed upon by both the prosecution and defense and was not discussed.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin today.

The Reporter has covered the case since 2014 when Hargrove’s body was found by her mother who called Kirkland police. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle.

Cushman voluntarily submitted to questioning by police, during which he admitted he had seen her a few days prior, admitting to violating a protection order. Police arrested him after the initial interview and he was subsequently held on $1.5 million bail.

According to previous coverage, Hargrove had filed a restraining order against Cushman in 2012, alleging he had been abusive and threatened her. The couple had one child together.

Cushman pled not guilty to second-degree murder charges in July 2014 during an arraignment.

His trial was originally set to begin on March 21, but was pushed back.