Gendered Violence Portal

Brittany Nichols’ killer slashed her more than 17 times, reportedly in a rage that she was breaking up with him. That was the testimony given Monday during a hearing for Johnny Maurice Bell, who pleaded not guilty and will face a trial for her murder.

A deputy state medical examiner listed the wounds at Monday’s preliminary hearing in 2nd District Court for Bell, charged with Nichols’ Jan. 4 murder. The count could be 23 stab wounds with a group of six smaller injuries aligned together on the victim’s back, small punctures that could have been caused when she fell.

In all Bell used five knives in the attack around midnight, according to testimony, including four cheap kitchen knives, which broke or bent…