Milford (AP) — A murder suspect has testified in his own defense, denying he killed his ex-girlfriend nine years ago.

Matthew Pugh testified for nearly two hours Wednesday in Milford Superior Court. He said he did not kill or harm Alexandra Ducsay, an aspiring actress and musician.

The badly beaten 26-year-old Ducsay was discovered by her mother in the basement bedroom of her Milford home on May 19, 2006. An autopsy showed she died of stab wounds and multiple blunt force trauma injuries to her head.

Pugh and Ducsay dated, but the relationship ended when Pugh, a convicted drug dealer, was jailed from 1998 until 2004.

The 42-year-old Pugh tried to discredit testimony by his cousin, Anthony Pugh, who said Matthew Pugh was angry with Ducsay for leaving him and taking money and a car.