Fayette County prosecutors on Tuesday began presenting their case against a 71-year-old Mulberry Grove man accused of the September 17th, 2017 murder of a Brownstown man. David Leroy Bright is facing two counts first-degree murder for the death of James Skinner in his home.

Witness testimony included statements from Skinner’s son who found his father’s body the morning of the murder as well a written statement from Skinner’s neighbor who accompanied Ryan Skinner back to his father’s home following the discovery of the body.

Illinois State Police Master Sergeant for Crime Scene Investigations Abigail Henn testified that the autopsy revealed the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Henn says a sledgehammer is believed to be the murder weapon and one was discovered in weeds out front of the Skinner residence.

Dr. Marissa Feeney was the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy. She detailed the extent of Skinner’s injuries, including trauma to the right and rear side of his head area, fractures to the jaw, facial area and skull area as well as hemorrhaging and damage to the brain from multiple blows.

Testimony continued Wednesday and the trial is expected to continue for several days.