Opening statements were given yesterday in the murder trial of Gaege Bethune. The man accused in the 2014 death of an SIU student.

Special Prosecutor David Robinson told the jury Bethune committed two crimes aggravated battery and robbery. Those crimes led to the death of Pravin Varughese.

Robinson said an intoxicated Bethune and Varughese drove around Carbondale looking for cocaine, with Varughese contributing $25 toward the effort. After an unsuccessful search, the pair argued, with Varughese taking back most of the $25 and, although wearing only a T-shirt and blue jeans, got out the car. That is when Bethune punched Varughese several times.

Defense attorney Michael Wepsiec said hypothermia was the only cause of death in the case and Bethune had nothing to do with it.