ORLANDO, Fla. — The trial for the man accused of strangling his wife in their Delaney Park home in 2018 finally got underway on Thursday.
The case has faced years of delays in court over pleas and suspect David Tronnes’ mental state.
▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Investigators accused Tronnes of beating and strangling his wife, Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, more than five years ago. Tronnes told police he simply found her face down in the bathtub.
Prosecutors said the evidence does not match Tronnes’ story, showing photos that show Shanti Cooper’s body with visible markings on her neck.
Officials seated a jury for the trial Wednesday night, with opening statements beginning Thursday morning.
Read: Trial starts Wednesday for man accused of strangling his wife to death in Orange County
It wasn’t until January that Tronnes was finally found competent to face the charges.
Then, in March, there was a last-minute attempt by Tronnes’ attorneys to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity raised eyebrows, but the judge ruled that they had missed the filing deadline.
Watch: David Tronnes ruled competent, expected to face new lawsuit in wife’s death
Channel 9 has a crew inside of the courtroom and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group
