The former on-again, off-again girlfriend of a FrederickCounty man who died last year after an apparent fight outside a Keymar bar indicated to police she may have ignited the fatal encounter.

Brandy Stambaugh, 24, of Rocky Ridge, testified Wednesday in Carroll County Circuit Court that the fight that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Craig Edward Myers, also of Rocky Ridge, started after Myers saw her hug a former boyfriend outside the Crossroads Inn, in the 6600 block of Middleburg Road.

The ex-boyfriend is Thomas J. Robey, 23, who is charged in the death along with his brother, Jonathan L. Robey, 21, and father, John D. Robey, 53, all of Hagerstown.

The Robeys are charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and three counts of assault. The state's case against the Robeys is being heard as a joint trial this week.

Stambaugh testified that immediately after the hug on the night of Aug. 28, 2011, Myers became jealous. A fourth man charged in the death -- Michael Jay Grimes, 49, of Woodsboro -- hit Myers in the face after he walked over to break up the hug, according to Stambaugh.

While Stambaugh was trying to stop Grimes from hitting Myers again, John Robey punched Myers "one good time" in the face, knocking him to the ground. Jonathan and Thomas then continued to beat him while he was on the ground, according to Stambaugh's testimony.

Police found Myers lying unconscious outside the bar. He died four days later from blunt force trauma to the head and spinal injuries at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.

Grimes faces manslaughter and assault charges. His trial has not yet been scheduled.

Wednesday's testimony centered on Stambaugh's version of the night's events. She broke down and cried several times during her almost three hours of questioning.

Stambaugh knew Myers for nine years and had been living with him for almost three years leading up to his death, she said.

After attending a funeral viewing earlier in the day, she said she met up with Myers and family members at the bar.

Stambaugh testified that she used cocaine that morning and drank two to three beers over the course of the day.

Mary Roop, bartender at the Crossroads Inn the night of the incident, also testified Wednesday. Roop said she remembers seeing Myers, Stambaugh, Grimes, John Robey and two "young men" at the bar that night.

There were no verbal or physical altercations inside the bar, Roop said.

The turning point occurred outside after Myers saw the hug between Stambaugh and Thomas Robey, Stambaugh said.

Judson K. Larrimore, defense counsel for John Robey, argued that Stambaugh knew she would make Myers jealous by hugging a former boyfriend in front of him, noting that Stambaugh had "Robey" tattooed on her neck at the time. She has since altered the tattoo.

Stambaugh said Wednesday that she did not know what would result from the hug.

Jeff Leppert, of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, was a paramedic on the scene the night of the fight. He testified Wednesday that Myers had no apparent injuries other than those to his mouth. Leppert said Myers did not look like a person who had been beaten.

Stambaugh is being sequestered and is expected to continue testifying today with Circuit Judge Michael M. Galloway presiding.

Senior assistant state's attorneys Edward Coyne and Kelley Galvin are prosecuting the case.

Defense lawyers Peter Korzenewski and Clarke Ahlers are representing Jonathan Robey and Thomas Robey, respectively.