(WSBT) Testimony began Tuesday in the quadruple murder case against a former Lakeville man, with both sides laying out their theories of what happened.

The prosecution says Jeff Pelley shot and killed his father, stepmother, and two stepsisters on the day of his prom in April 1989.

Defense lawyers said in their opening statements that there is no hard evidence, and there are no witnesses to the shooting. It’s a hurdle the prosecution will have to deal with.

“The current administration didn’t charge this case; this case was charged by Mr. Toth and his administration,” said deputy prosecutor Frank Schaffer, who is trying the case. “So I really don’t know what was the guiding force behind them to charge him, but they did.”

Several of the prosecution’s witnesses took the stand Tuesday. Many went to Olive Branch United Brethren Church, where Bob Pelley was pastor. They told the jury about the grisly discovery of finding most of the Pelley family murdered. Police from St. Joseph County also testified about what they saw.

But from all the pre-trial publicity both sides emphasized to the jury that they must only consider the evidence in court, not what they’ve reading the papers or seen on TV.

“Those jurors that have read and seen things were going to be able to set that aside, and judge the case based upon the evidence,” Alan Baum, Pelley’s attorney, told NEWS22. “And we’ve got a good fair-minded jury and I’m very proud.”