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CLEVELAND (WJW) – The jury is seated and opening statements got underway late Monday afternoon in the murder trial of Bionca Ellis.
The 34-year-old is accused of killing 3-year-old Julian Wood and the attempted murder of his mother Margo Wood, despite not knowing them.
“She knew what she did. She appreciated the wrongfulness of her actions. You be the judge of her actions,” said Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Anna Faraglia as she addressed jurors.
Faraglia painted a disturbing picture of what transpired on June 3, 2024.
She said Ellis had gone to the North Olmsted Police Department to retrieve belongings left behind after she was jailed for theft.
She said Ellis wasn’t happy with the outcome and immediately went across the street to the Volunteers of America store, where she stole two knives.
“She takes those two knives and she picks them against the cement pillar to see their pliability,” said Faraglia. “You will notice Bionca Ellis coming into Giant Eagle and she’s got the 12-inch butcher knife.”
The supermarket is in the same plaza.
Margo and Julian were shopping for supper and had just checked out when they crossed paths with Ellis.
“She sees them walking and she turns immediately around and she follows them all the way out of the store,” said Faraglia.
In the parking lot, Faraglia said surveillance video shows Ellis first stab Julian and then Margo as she defends her son, and then Ellis standing over Julian as he is laying on the ground and stabbing him in the back.
“She walks away. Just walks away nonchalantly,” said Faraglia.
Multiple people and witnesses tried to save Julian, but he died from his injuries.
Faraglia said the evidence will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ellis is guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, child endangering, attempted murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and theft.
However, defense attorneys said the evidence actually shows that Ellis is mentally ill.
“In broad daylight never trying to conceal it and she doesn’t run. She walks away, knife in hand,” said Defense Attorney Fernando Mack.
Mack said Ellis has suffered with schizophrenia for more than a decade and that her mother was trying to get her help,
“Bionca when she’s on medication or when she’s off her medication, she’s two different people,” he said.
Mack acknowledged that Ellis is “responsible for the murder of Julian” and the attempted murder of Margo, but he said she’s also not guilty by reason of insanity.
“There is no running away from that. That’s not what this trial is about. The evidence will show, though, that it is obvious that she was insane at the time of the offense,” said Mack.
The trial resumes Tuesday before Judge John Russo at the Justice Center in Cleveland.
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Suzanne Stratford
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