Ashton Kutcher recalls 'freaking out' after realising his fingerprints were on murdered date's door

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29:  Ashton Kutcher testifies during the trial of alleged serial killer Michael Gargiulo, known as the “Hollywood Ripper,” at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on May 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.  Gargiulo is facing murder charges, including the February 21, 2001 stabbing death of Kutcher’s friend Ashley Ellerin.  (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photo credit: Getty

Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher appeared in a Los Angeles court this week, testifying in the murder case of a former date.

Suspected serial killer Michael Gargiulo is charged with murdering two women, including Ashley Ellerin, whom Kutcher had attempted to take out for drinks the night she was killed in 2001.

"I knocked on the door. There was no answer. Knocked again. And once again, no answer," the actor told the court.

"At this point I pretty well assumed she had left for the night, and that I was late, and she was upset."

The That 70's Show star, now married to Mila Kunis, explained he looked through the window at Ellerin's home, noticing the place looked a little out of order. 

"I thought it odd the lights were all on, I didn't want to be the guy looking through her window," Kutcher said.

"Then I saw what I thought was red wine on the carpet."

Prosecutors say Gargiulo stabbed Ellerin 47 times after sneaking into her house as she was getting ready to go out with the movie star. 

Kutcher learned the following day that his date had been killed, and was interviewed by police about his presence at the scene, where he had tried to open Ellerin's front door.

"My fingerprints are on this door and I was freaking out," he explained.

Kutcher is one of more than 100 witnesses who will be called to the stand in Gargiulo's case.

Dubbed the 'Hollywood Ripper', prosecutors have described Gargiulo a "serial sexual-thrill killer". He has pleaded not guilty.

Newshub.