Shelley Malil, the actor best known for playing an electronics-store clerk in 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin,'
testified Thursday that he stabbed his girlfriend 20 times by mistake.
Malil said he thought Kendra Beebe was somebody else getting ready to attack him, PEOPLE reports.
"I'm sorry," Malil said in a Vista, Calif., courtroom. "I had no idea. I saw the pictures for the first time, I was stunned. When I look at those pictures, I still can't believe the knife I was holding was responsible for all those injuries."The actor pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary. Malil is facing a possible life sentence. Beebe was stabbed at her San Diego County house in August 2008 after Malil found her socializing with another man, David Maldonado. He felt threatened and believed Maldonado was going to kill him. He recalls getting "hit from the back on the side of the head. It felt like cold granite countertop." "I don't know what it was, but someone was hitting me with something and all I had was this knife and I just went bananas with the thing," Malil said. Malil started slashing out in defense not realizing he was actually stabbing Beebe. Earlier this month, Beebe told the jury that Malil had been jealous and controlling, had broken up with her at least once and at one point blocked her phone calls. "This was a very unhealthy relationship," Beebe said to the defense attorney. "I think you've illustrated that." The trial will continue with cross-examination Monday, and closing statements are expected Tuesday.
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