'40-Year-Old Virgin' Actor Shelley Malil: I Stabbed My Girlfriend

(NewsCore) - American actor Shelley Malil -- best known for appearing in ’The 40-Year-Old Virgin’ -- testified that he stabbed his ex-girlfriend 20 times, thinking he was being attacked by someone else in the dark, People.com reported Thursday.

Malil, 45, who appeared alongside Steve Carrell in the 2005 movie, pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary.

Malil told the jury in a Vista, Calif. courtroom that he had found Kendra Beebe with her friend David Maldonado drinking wine at home, and had felt threatened that Maldonado was about to attack him.

Following a scuffle between the two men, Mailil told the court he followed Maldonado out to his car when he was unexpectedly struck on the back of the head by something that ’...felt like cold granite counter top.’

Carrying a butcher knife at this point, it is claimed that Malil started slashing about wildly in the dark in self defense, allegedly not realizing he was attacking Beebe.

The trial continues with cross-examinations on Monday.

Malil, who has also appeared in "The Office" and "Scrubs," could serve 21 years to life in prison if convicted.