Hank Hawes doesn't remember moments when USC professor was fatally stabbed

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COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Hank Hawes, the man accused of murdering a popular University of South Carolina professor, has taken the stand in his own defense on Monday. Hawes spent his time on the stand detailing the sequence of events that happened just before 36-year-old Jennifer Wilson was fatally stabbed in her Shandon home.

Hawes said he had to defend himself when Wilson bit his hand and came at him with a kitchen knife during an early morning argument. He says the dispute began after he went to the house to break off their relationship.

Hawes told the jury he remembers seeing blood everywhere as the two struggled, but can't recall pushing, punching, or stabbing Wilson.

"I just had to get her off me," Hawes said.

He did remember carrying Wilson's body from room to room before leaving it on a couch.

The 38-year-old then said he was in shock after the fatal stabbing where Wilson was stabbed 12 times and slashed 10 times, according to investigators.

"I saw blood everywhere," said Hawes.

Hawes is charged with Wilson's murder. Investigators said the pair met online.

The trial began last week with Hawes' defense calling the crime a "crime of passion" instead of murder.

"These two people had a passion for each other," public defender Fielding Pringle said. "Hank Hawes had a passion for Jennifer Wilson. Jennifer Wilson had a passion for Hank Hawes. And they should have let it go and they should have moved on away from each other, but they didn't. And it wasn't one-sided."

The jury was sent home Monday afternoon and will be told somewhere around 12 p.m. if they were be back in court on Tuesday. If they are called back, they will hear from two additional witnesses. If the judge does not allow the witnesses, the jury will return at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.