Ashton Kutcher has told a court he “screwed up” on the night his girlfriend was horrifically murdered.

The 41-year-old actor told a jury he was “freaking out” after learning Ashley Ellen was brutally butchered the same evening they were due to go on a date.

Ashton even saw his date’s blood splattered on the carpet – which he put down to a red wine stain – when he looked through her window to check she was home, having spotted her red BMW convertible parked outside and all the lights on.

Giving evidence at the trial of ‘Hollywood Ripper’ Michael Thomas Gargiulo, who denies murdering two women, including Ashley, and attempting to kill another – Ashton said he had met Ashley at her housewarming party in December 2001, when he was still in a relationship with an ex.

When they broke up, Ashton contacted fashion student Ashley and arranged a date for that fateful night – the same day as the Grammy Awards.

Ashley then called him at 8.24pm that evening to say she had showered and was drying her hair, the Daily Mailreports.