FAYETTE COUNTY — Fayette County prosecutors on Tuesday began presenting their case against a 71-year-old Mulberry Grove man accused of the September 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 Tuesday included statements from Skinner’s son who found his father’s body the morning of September 17, 2017, and a written statement from Skinner’s neighbor who accompanied Ryan Skinner back to his father’s home following his discovery of his father’s body.

Illinois State Police Master Sergeant for Crime Scene Investigations Abigail Henn was testified that the autopsy revealed the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Henn revealed that a sledgehammer believed to be the murder weapon was discovered in weeds in 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.