DADE CITY, Fla. — The high-profile murder trial of retired Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves started Monday with opening statements and testimony from the widow of the man shot.

Reeves is accused of killing 43-year-old Chad Oulson inside a Wesley Chapel movie theater in 2014. The two were arguing about Oulson's use of a cellphone before a movie started.

Reeves faces second-degree murder charges and could face life in prison.

After opening statements Monday morning, testimony began with jurors hearing from Oulson’s widow, Nicole.

The court was mostly quiet as Oulson remembered the day of the shooting. There were sounds of emotion from the audience as she remembered placing her hand on her husband's chest to try to de-escalate the disagreement with Reeves.

She said moments later, it felt like her hand was on fire or blown off. And shortly after, she saw Chad Oulson collapse.

Nicole testified that Reeves demanded that her husband put the phone away.

“It was just rude. It was demanding,” she said. “It was like it was an order. It wasn’t, excuse me or would you mind? Or an explanation that the light is distracting. It was just very matter of fact, you need to do this.”

CURTIS REEVES AGE EXPECTED TO BE A FOCUS

Reeves is 79 years old and was 71 at the time of the shooting. His age is expected to come up often in the trial.

Assistant State Attorney Scott Rosenwasser on Monday morning walked jurors through the events of January 13, 2014 - the day of the shooting.

He told them a picture is being painted of Reeves, and it began with his taped statement to law enforcement.

Rosenwasser says Reeves told them he had bad arthritis in his back and knees.

But Rosenwasser noted that surveillance footage shows - and witnesses will testify - that Reeves had no problem navigating the theater's aisles, and that he moved quickly just moments before the shooting.

"This is important to watch on the video because it goes back to my back, my knees,” Rosenwasser said. "What you’re going to see on the video is the defendant, in an incredibly quick and swift maneuver, reaches his right leg out. As he’s leaning back he goes into his pocket to get his firearm that he’s brought into the theater, and lunges forward to shoot Chad Oulson."

Chad Oulson was killed in the 2014 shooting. (Facebook photo)

Reeves says he acted in self-defense. Part of that involves the defense saying a cellphone was thrown at Reeves.

While the state said Reeves' DNA wasn't found on the phone, the defense said testing shows the evidence can't definitively link the DNA found on the phone to anyone - even Chad Oulson.

“So, is it possible that if the evidence is properly preserved that we would see Mr. Reeves’ DNA on that case as it hit him in the head?” asked Defense Attorney Dino Michaels. “Of course it’s possible. We’ll never know because the way that this phone was handled was abominable. The Sheriff’s Office didn’t go in there and try to preserve the DNA evidence.”

An attorney for Reeves told jurors they'll also hear from experts on aging and how that affects a person's vulnerability.

It took eight years for the case to get to this point, including four days of jury selection last week. 

The trial is expected to include testimony from witnesses inside the theater when a shooting happened.

Movie theater managers are also expected to testify, along with other customers who were there and character witnesses for both men.

It is unclear how long the trial will last, but the state is expected to wrap up its side of the argument by mid- to late week.

This is a developing story. Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 for updates.

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