An attorney for Juan Contreras, 27, of Waltham, Mass., says his client was intoxicated and had no intent or motive in the death of 81-year-old Grace Burton.

FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) _ A defense attorney for a man charged with fatally stabbing an elderly woman in her apartment says his client was so intoxicated he was unaware of what he was doing.

Chris Berrymint told Justice Michaela Murphy in his opening statement Monday that 27-year-old Juan Contreras of Waltham, Mass., had no intent or motive in the death of 81-year-old Grace Burton.

Contreras has pleaded not guilty to breaking into Burton's Farmington apartment in June 2011 and stabbing her 35 times. The Morning Sentinel says Murphy is hearing the case because Contreras waived his right to a jury trial.

Contreras was arrested after investigators matched his DNA to blood in Burton's apartment. Contreras lived in Farmington at the time of the slaying, but then moved to Massachusetts.