REPLAY: Wednesday's testimony in Nicholas Luerkens murder trial

CEDAR RAPIDS — The prosecution continues its case at 9 a.m. today in the Nicholas Luerkens first-degree murder trial in Linn County District Court.

Luerkens, 32, of Cedar Rapids, is accused of killing former girlfriend Lynnsey Donald, 29, in the parking lot of the Marion Hy-Vee on April 21. According to testimony Tuesday, Luerkens planned and started following Donald after she broke up with him and wouldn't reconcile.

Witnesses testified Tuesday Luerkens ambushed Donald as she and her 7-year-old son came out of the store and were headed to the car. A surveillance video captured the incident and shows Luerkens repeatedly stabbing Donald. He then stabbed and injured himself. Jurors watched the graphic video Tuesday.

The defense reserved its opening statement, but Luerkens plans to claim he was insane or had diminished capacity and was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol at the time of the brutal assault.