The trial for the man accused of killing a senior, a father and a two-year-old girl in Crowsnest Pass almost two years ago began on Wednesday morning in a Lethbridge courtroom.

** WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT FOLLOWS **

Derek Saretzky, 24, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Terry Blanchette, 27, his daughter Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, 2, and 69-year-old Hanne Meketech.

The case began back in September 2015 when Blanchette’s body was found inside the home he shared with his daughter, Hailey, in Blairmore.

An AMBER Alert was issued for the little girl, after she was reported missing from the home. After two days of searching, her remains were discovered at a nearby rural property.

Meketech’s body was found inside her Coleman area home at about the same time and Saretzky was charged with her murder in April of 2016.

The trial got underway on Wednesday, just after 9:30, and Saretzky appeared in the prisoner's box and officially entered a not guilty plea to all of the charges.

16 jurors were chosen during the selection process on May 25. One juror was excused because he said he's sensitive to the graphic details of the case and was replaced with an alternate.

Justice William Tilleman started the day by instructing the jury to avoid all news reports and social media posts about the case.

Tilleman also talked to the seven men and seven women about presumption of innocence and said that the Crown bears the burden of proof.

He also encouraged jury members to ask for breaks if they need it as the details in the case are graphic in nature.

Crown Prosecutor Photini Papadatou presented her opening statement and told the jury that they will hear an agreed statement of facts and see photos and a video.

She said that at one point over 100 officers searched for Hailey and that the accused's family came forward after the AMBER Alert was issued.

"They are good and decent people and you will hear from some of them," she said.

The Crown said that Saretzky confessed to killing all three victims in video interviews with police.

In an agreed statement of facts, court heard that Terry’s father found his son’s body in the main bathroom of the home in a pool of blood. He had head injuries and a cut throat.

The prosecution says that the initial attack happened in Terry’s bedroom and that he was dragged to the bathroom.

The Crown said that blood was also found on Hailey’s bedroom door, a blanket and a doll in a crib.

Court heard that Saretzky’s uncle told police that a van they were looking for appeared to belong to his family’s dry cleaning business and the van was seized as evidence. RCMP found blood in the van on the floor, door and steering wheel.

Police say Saretzky’s father, Larry, spoke to his son at his apartment and that he was arrested soon after. Blood was found on the door, entry way and wall to the upstairs of Saretzky’s apartment.

A search warrant turned up a notebook with the names Hanne and Terry and the words 'hideous baby' crossed out. Police also found books about serial killers and cannibalism in the apartment.

The Crown says a campsite where Hailey’s body was found was owned by the Saretzky family and a search of the fire pit produced human bones, a knife, a hatchet and partially burned books.

A pot and child’s toy were also located near the fire pit and both had blood on them that was matched to Hailey’s DNA.

The prosecution called it's first witness in the afternoon. Ray Labonte Jr. lived next to Meketech and says the door to her trailer was open and that he found her dead in her bedroom.

The court was shown a graphic photo of Meketech's body lying in a pool of blood and the Crown says she was killed five days before Terry and Hailey.

RCMP officer Josh Stachow testified next and said that he noticed that Meketech’s door had been forced open.

He said that bloody paw prints from her dogs were found throughout the home and that one of the animals was lying on her body when she was found.

Testimony in the case has wrapped for the day and the medical examiner in the Meketech investigation will take the stand on Thursday.

The jury trial is expected to last four weeks and will hear from more than 40 witnesses in total, including members of Saretzky’s family and Cheyenne Dunbar, Hailey’s mother.

@CTVInaSidhu, @CTVKaellaCarr and @JanetDirks are covering the trial for CTV News.