The attorney representing the Elmira man charged with murdering a Corning resident during a robbery last June told a jury Thursday his client killed the victim in self-defense.

Attorney David R. Morabito made the assertion during opening statements at Marland D. Brooks’ murder trial in Steuben County. Brooks, 39, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and three other felonies for the June 18 stabbing death of Clark VanEtten, 26.