INDIANAPOLIS -- Opening statements and testimony began Wednesday in the trial of James Stewart in the slayings of seven people in 2006, the city's largest mass killing.

Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Haley told jurors that Stewart, 33, and Desmond Turner, who was convicted of murder last month "brutally slaughtered seven family members."

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The jurors -- six men and six women -- stared at photographs of the crime scene while Haley discussed where each victim was found and how many times each victim was shot.

Haley said Stewart and Turner are "equally responsible, regardless of who pulled the trigger."

Seven members of the Covarrubias and Valdez families were fatally shot during a robbery at 560 N. Hamilton Ave. in 2006. The victims were Emma Valdez, 46, David Covarrubias, 8, Alberto Covarrubias, 11, Magno Albarran, 29, Flora Albarran, 21, and Luis Albarran, 5.

Police think Stewart was an accomplice to Turner in the slayings, which happened during a robbery at the house. Stewart's lawyer and family members said he wasn't involved.

"He didn't do it. It wasn't him," said Katina Simpson, Stewart's aunt.

"Under Indiana law, accomplice liability states that if you go and commit a crime with someone else, you are responsible for the actions that he takes during the commission of that crime," said Mario Massillamany of the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. "He's charged with seven counts of murder, and also seven counts of felony murder because ... they went in to commit a robbery, and that's when the murders occurred."

Officer Michael Kermon took the stand, giving graphic testimony about what he encountered at the crime scene.

Members of the victims' families were not in court on Wednesday, but east side community activists came on their behalf.

"We want to be here so we can show we care. We don't want this going on in our city. We want them to put away people doing this," said Pat Boyce.

Prosecutors hope to introduce testimony that Stewart told a girlfriend that he asked Turner not to shoot the children.

Turner was sentenced to life without parole plus 88 years. Judge Robert Altice had set aside three days for jury selection, but the jury was seated in one day. Altice has said that he would like the trial to be finished by Dec. 18.