[bloodrayne]

Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Pleads Guilty, Then Changes His Mind

Lexington, Kentucky- The man accused of killing his girlfriend then dumping her body along the side of a Lexington road made a bizarre appearance in court Thursday morning, first pleading guilty to the crime then changing his mind and asking for a trial.

Eugene Strunk, Jr., 37, was expected to plead guilty in Fayette Circuit Court in the February 2004 stabbing death of Sheila Kim Gibbs. Her body was discovered along Faulkner Avenue in Lexington.

However, after Strunk admitted to the judge that he stabbed Gibbs three times, causing her death, and disputing stabbing her 23 times, one of Strunk's family members spoke up from the gallery and said "take it to trial."

At that point, Strunk decided to do exactly that, and the judge ultimately did not accept Strunk's original guilty plea.

Strunk was set to go to trial in next month, but that start date could be continued.

Along with admitting he killed Gibbs, Strunk also told the judge he consumed seven controlled substances at the time of the murder.

Strunk, who had undergone psychiatric evaluations after his arrest, has been found competent to stand trial.