A judge declared a mistrial on Friday in a double murder case that is also connected to a courthouse fight and deadly shooting.
The mounting incidents surrounding the trial of Charles Trotter made Douglas County Public Defender Tom Riley ask for a mistrial Friday morning.
The prosecution had no objections so Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf granted the request.
Trotter is accused of murdering Marcel Lovejoy and Dexter Joseph during a birthday party at their apartment near 100th and Arcadia Plaza in January 2015.
This week, Jarrell Haynes, Lovejoy's cousin, was shot outside his house and later died.
His family says he had just returned from the courthouse because he went to the trial.
The same day of the shooting, a fight between family members also broke out inside the courthouse.
Prosecutors say a witness also wouldn't answer any questions while on the stand.
Both the victims and the suspect in the case were known by police to be in gangs, according to investigators.
A mistrial does not mean that Trotter will be freed from jail. He will stay behind bars until the next trial, which is scheduled for June.
This is a developing story. Watch KMTV Action 3 News and check KMTV.com for updates.
