A judge ruled Friday that prosecutors could present several autopsy photos as evidence in a murder trial scheduled to begin March 12.

Douglas County District Court Judge Jack Murphy made the decision Friday after hearing testimony from Douglas County Coroner Erik Mitchell in the case of Christopher Belone.

Prosecutors accuse Belone of beating his 37-year-old girlfriend, Linda Begay, and causing her death. They allege the incident occurred July 29 at Gaslight Village mobile home park, 1900 W. 31st St. She died three days later.

Mitchell testified that the photos would help display evidence of Begay’s internal injuries and external bruises. Belone’s attorney, Greg Robinson, had objected and said the photos would be inflammatory evidence. Murphy said he would allow prosecutors to use most photos except for a few that duplicated other images.

In an earlier hearing, Mitchell had testified that Begay died from peritonitis, which is an infection in the abdomen, after blunt trauma had damaged her bowels.

Robinson has said investigators and prosecutors do not have physical evidence or witnesses who can put Belone at the scene. Belone is charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping and obstruction in connection with Begay’s death.