WICHITA, Kansas, May 15, 2008 – Two years after a Wichita teen is murdered, her accused killer stands on trial for capital murder.

The crime shocked the city, especially after it was revealed that 14-year-old Chelsea Brooks was nine-months pregnant.

Prosecutors spared no emotion during opening statements in describing how the state believes Ted Burnett strangled Brooks.

"That is when the cord comes around her neck, “said prosecutor Marc Bennett. “In fact, Ted got his foot up into the chair so he could get more leverage, and he strangled the life from Chelsea Brooks' body."

Prosecutors allege that Burnett was paid $500 by Brooks’ boyfriend Elgin Robinson for the killing. The state believes Robinson was the father of Brooks’ unborn baby and that he feared he would be arrested for statutory rape once the baby was born.

"I told him to forget that he knew her name, that he knew how to call her, if he saw her name on her call ID to ignore it; to just stay away from her,” said Chelsea’s mother Terri Brooks.

Prosecutors say Robinson couldn’t do that and that back in June of 2006 he and defendant Ted Burnett picked up Brooks and Burnett strangled her in the car. After killing her, prosecutors say they dumped her body in a Butler County field.

"There is a lack of evidence in this case,” said defense attorney Gary Owens.

Burnett’s attorneys aren’t buying the prosecution’s case against him. They told jurors the only thing connecting Burnett to the crime is Everett Gentry; a man who has already pleaded guilty and agreed to testify.

"If you're going to find Theodore Burnett guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, you're going to have to believe Everett Gentry beyond a reasonable doubt,” Owens said. “You're going to have to buy what he is selling.”

Both sides agree the testimony of Everett Gentry will be a big key to the case. He is expected to take the stand on Monday.