A Toronto man stabbed a co-worker dozens of times after she faked a pregnancy and claimed he was the father, the opening of a love triangle murder trial was told Monday.

After sleeping with — and falling for — her work colleague’s boyfriend, Virgil Jack pretended she was carrying Nicholas Johnson’s baby. She even asked a friend for a urine sample, but was denied, and was seen in a work washroom with a positive pregnancy test, Crown attorney Georgette Gaganiaras told a Superior Court jury.

On Aug. 19, 2017, the 31-year-old’s partially submerged body was found in a stream in a wooded area of Derrydowns Park, near Jane and Finch.

A forensic pathologist will testify he found at least 156 sharp-force injuries on her body, including 126 stab wounds and 30 other lacerations, the prosecutor said.

Johnson, 25, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

In her opening statement, Gaganiaras told court that Johnson’s girlfriend, Elizabeth Owusu Bempah, will testify she and Johnson drove to Brampton after their overnight shift ended on Aug. 18, 2017. Owusu Bempah went to Ajax to visit her family member, while Johnson told her he planned to visit his mother in North York.

That afternoon, at 2:31 p.m., Johnson sent a text to Jack’s phone that said: “Don’t tell your sister I see you,” Gaganiaras said. The message was found on Jack’s cellphone, which police recovered in the shallow water near her body.

Video surveillance from Jack’s residence shows her leaving the building four minutes later.

The Crown said a witness will testify that Jack told her Johnson began seeing her in July 2017, after his girlfriend went on vacation.

The three all worked at the same North York company.

Forensic officers will testify about tire tracks and evidence found at the crime scene, including a rubber stopper found there, similar to one missing from Johnson’s car, the Crown attorney said. Johnson’s blood was found in his Toyota, court heard.

Jurors will also hear about two statements Johnson provided to police. On Aug. 22, 2017, during the early stages of the investigation, Johnson told officers that he had become involved with Jack and that she had told him she was pregnant with his baby.

In that statement, Johnson denied ever being in Derrydowns Park with Jack or that he had anything to do with her death.

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When he was arrested Jan. 11, 2018, Johnson gave a second statement where he told officers he was in Derrydowns Park with Jack on Aug. 18.

The trial continues.