Trial Underway Of Man Accused Of Brutally Beating Roommate

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The trial for a man accused of brutally beating his roommate began Wednesday afternoon following jury selection.

During opening statements, prosecutors told the jury former fitness trainer, Byron Mitchell, brutally attacked and nearly killed his roommate on Valentine's Day in 2016.

"This defendant did that to Danielle. We know that because he admitted to it," said the prosecutor.

Investigators say 39-year-old Mitchell left Danielle Jones in a coma for several weeks.

"I didn't expect to look normal because I saw my pictures and I thought I would have purple scars all over my face and I would be in a wheelchair," said
Jones.

"I'm just happy I'm alive."

On Wednesday afternoon, her mother sat in court.

Jones initially thought there would've been a plea. But now, her accused attacker's fate will soon be in the hands of a jury.

Defense attorneys say they won't argue who attached Jones.

They are working to poke holes in the prosecutor's case.

"It's your job to listen to the evidence and it's also your job to hear and pay attention to the evidence you're not being given."

Jones says she and Mitchell met through the online site Craigslist when she needed a roommate for her apartment in the Overtown area of Miami.

A week after he moved in, Jones' mother said her daughter shared a bottle of wine with Mitchell and a friend on Valentine's Day 2016. Sometime after the friend left, Mitchell attacked her. He is accused of choking, bashing and stabbing her nearly to death.

Jones was hospitalized and in a coma for nearly three months.

Mitchell claims the two were in a relationship and this was self-defense after Danielle came at him with a knife.

Mitchell is charged with attempted felony murder.