PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A 24-year-old West Kensington man was ordered today to stand trial for the murder of his live-in girlfriend this past July.

A police homicide detective testified that defendant Kelvin Rivera confessed to stabbing his girlfriend, Zakimah Forde, after he found her in bed, having an online affair with another man in the middle of the night.

According to homicide detective Timothy Scally, Rivera admitted confronting Forde, the mother of their children, and when they argued he threatened to take the children.

Rivera says Forde pulled out a knife but was herself stabbed during a struggle.  Rivera says he then stabbed her a few more times and initially took steps to hide the body, eventually putting it in a suitcase.  But Rivera told police he then went to his pastor, his family, and police, and confessed.

Defense attorney Gerald Stein contends Rivera acted in self-defense, with provocation.

“I do believe that is what went on,” he told KYW Newsradio today.  “I think that is what is going to be presented at the time of trial, and I hope a jury will see it in that light.”

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060