California man denies killing Ashton Kutcher's ex

London, Sept 5 : A Californian man has pleaded not guilty to stabbing actor Ashton Kutcher's one-time girlfriend to death in 2001.

The 32-year-old air conditioning repairman, Michael Gargiulo, is accused of killing Ashley Ellerin, 22, Kutcher's former girlfriend, and Maria Bruno, 32.

Ellerin, a fashion student and model, was found dead in her Hollywood Hills home in February 2001 while Bruno was fatally stabbed at her apartment in Monterey Park, a Los Angeles suburb, in December 2005.

Gargiulo's lawyer, Anthony Salerno, said his client was "adamant" he was not involved in either killing, reports Telegraph.

As appearing in court for a separate case in which he is charged with attempted murder and burglary in a knife attack on a Santa Monica woman, Gargiulo pleaded not guilty to the murders.

In the case of Ellerin, Kutcher, who starred in the television series 'That 70s Show', told police that he went to pick her up for a post-Grammy Awards party but she did not answer the door.

Before leaving, he looked through a back window and saw what he thought were red wine stains.

Ellerin's body was discovered the next day by a friend.

ANI