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Ashton Kutcher's girlfriend was 'nearly decapitated in a frenzied knife attack by serial killer,' a court heard

THE girlfriend of film star Ashton Kutcher was the victim of a serial killer, a court heard.

Fashion student Ashley Ellerin, 22, was almost decapitated in a frenzied 2001 knife attack as she got ready for a party.

Ashton, now 41, arrived minutes later but when he looked in the window thought blood on her carpet was a wine stain.

Michael Gargiulo, 43, is on trial accused of being the Hollywood Ripper.

The married plumber is said to have stalked and killed three women between 1993 and 2008 in California and Illinois.

District Attorney Dan Akemon told the jury that Gargiulo — a husband and father with his own plumbing business — had led a “double life” as a killer.

He said: “What you will hear is that Michael Gargiulo for almost 15 years was watching and waiting.

“His hobby was to wait for the perfect opportunity to attack women in and around their homes.

“Ashley Ellerin led a glamorous life. She was a beautiful 22-year-old fashion student who socialised with the Hollywood crowd."

Jurors were shown a board with the pictures of Gargiulo’s four alleged victims and their ages when they were attacked.

'DOUBLE LIFE' AS A KILLER

In addition to killing Ashley, he is accused of murdering his 18-year-old neighbour Tricia Pacaccio in August 1993 in Glenview, Illinois.

In December 2005 he allegedly stabbed his 32-year-old neighbor Maria Bruno to death at her home in El Monte, California.