Ex-Virginia Tech student’s trial begins in girl’s 2016 death

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) — Prosecutors have told jurors that a former Virginia Tech student charged as an accessory in the death of a 13-year-old girl was closely involved in helping a friend plan the killing.

But Natalie Keepers’ lawyers told the jury that Keepers believed that talk of killing the girl was just a fantasy.

The conflicting portrayals of Keepers came Tuesday during opening statements at her trial. Keepers has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory before the fact in the 2016 fatal stabbing of Nicole Lovell.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettitt said Keepers discussed various ways of killing Lovell with her friend, David Eisenhauer. Keepers’ attorney said Keepers only participated in the discussion to maintain her friendship with Eisenhauer.

He is now serving a 50-year sentence after pleading no contest to first-degree murder.