Murder trial underway for man accused of killing Christine Mustafa

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - The trial of a man accused of killing a Valley mother who went missing nearly two years ago continued on Tuesday.

Christine Mustafa has not been seen since May 10, 2017 when she left her work at Walgreens. When she didn't show up for her shift the following day, she was reported missing.

Her body has not been found despite an extensive search and prosecutors say there is plenty of evidence that proves her ex-boyfriend, Robert Interval, killed her.

In court on Monday, the first witness in the trial is Suzanne Mustafa, Christine's older sister.

"Just a very loving, warm-hearted, responsible mother," said Suzanne. "She loved her family. She loved us all very, very much."Prosecutors say Mustafa's relationship with Interval was hot and cold, especially when she told Interval that she was pregnant. Prosecutors say she moved to Ohio in order to help make the relationship work, but left and moved back to Phoenix.

Police searched the desert area near her neighborhood and investigators spent three months looking through a landfill in Buckeye but didn't find a body.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the evidence will show the defendant placed Christine's body inside a mattress cover, in the time he sat outside the North Gateway Transfer Station," said prosecutor Marischa Gilla.

Prosecutors say Interval killed her because she ended the relationship. Interval was arrested shortly after Mustafa vanished and was charged with first-degree murder.

"Despite that extensive and thorough investigation, they don't have a single physical evidence that Christine Moustafa is dead," said defense attorney Jamie Jackson. "They can't tell you how she died, where she died, and when she died."

The trial is expected to be lengthy, lasting more than a few weeks.