Testimony continues Wednesday in the murder trial for Colton Pitonyak, 24, a former University of Texas student accused of killing a 21-year-old woman in August 2005.

The mutilated body of Jennifer Cave was discovered in Pitonyak's West Campus apartment by the young woman’s stepfather.

Cave’s mother and stepfather drove up from Corpus Christi after their daughter went missing.

Police affidavits show that Cave and Pitonyak were acquainted and had been on a dinner date near the time of the murder.

On the first day of testimony Tuesday, Pitonyak pleaded not guilty to Cave's murder in an almost inaudible voice. During opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Bill Bishop listed off some of the evidence jurors would hear about over the next several days.

"You'll hear about the body of Jennifer Cave being in the bath tub of Mr. Pitonyak's apartment," Bishop said.

Defense attorney Sam Bassett confirmed that it was Pitonyak who shot and killed Cave.

"Colton Pitonyak is accused of causing the death of Jennifer Cave intentionally and knowingly. Colton's going to tell you he caused the death of Jennifer. This isn't going to be a ‘who done it.’ He's also going to tell you there is no reason in the world he would have done that on purpose, intentionally, or knowingly," Bassett said.

The defense also pointed to Laura Hall, the 22-year-old woman who fled to Mexico with Pitonyak, as a reason for the change of events that happened after Cave's death. Cave was shot, stabbed and later dismembered. By the time Cave’s parents came looking for her, Pitonyak was in Mexico.

The defense said years of alcohol and drug abuse by Pitonyak played a major role in what happened.

While on the stand, Jennifer's mother Sharon Cave spoke about her daughter's drug problem.

"We did the tough love approach. Cut back on her finances, at one point cut off her cell phone and worked with her," she said.

Torn apart by drugs, both families never imagined their children's problem would end with one dead and the other on trial for murder.