HAMILTON — Prosecutors say Gus Bealer beat his girlfriend, Cheryl Hahn, to death with a baseball bat last year.

        But if that's so, says defense lawyer Greg Howard, why didn't laboratory tests reveal any trace of Ms. Hahn's blood on the bat?

        Mr. Bealer's trial began Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court with those opening remarks in the courtroom of Judge H.J. Bressler. Lawyers in the case expect to finish presenting evidence by Wednesday.

        Mr. Bealer, 47, is charged with murder and felonious assault in connection with the death of Ms. Hahn, 46.

        Her body was found in her G street home June 25. Her skull was shattered, said Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Cox.

        Ms. Cox described Ms. Hahn as a woman who worked two jobs — at a Fairfield McDonald's and McSwain Carpets — to support herself and Mr. Bealer.

        The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship until Ms. Hahn “had enough,” Ms. Cox said.

        Then, several weeks after Ms. Hahn kicked Mr. Bealer out of her house, Mr. Bealer “came in to where she as sleeping — and murdered her ... in her pajamas,” Ms. Cox said.

        Mr. Bealer's lawyer argued that investigators focused only on his client and stopped “their investigation because they thought they had enough.”

        Mr. Howard said a police detective had obtained lab-test results on the baseball bat months ago, but delayed turning those results over to lawyers until only about two weeks ago.

        “Focus on what is here and focus on what is not here,” Mr. Howard urged the jury of 11 men and one woman.

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