Mistrial declared in Lehigh Acres triple-homicide case

FORT MYERS, Fla. A mistrial was declared shortly after the start of a trial of a man accused of killing three people.

A witness brought by the prosecution mentioned the immigration status of defendant Brian Hyde, prompting his defense attorneys to seek the mistrial declaration. It was granted shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, just hours after the trial began.

Hyde immigrated to the U.S. illegally from Belize and was in the process of being deported when he was arrested. But the judge declared that information off-limits to jurors before the trial began.

He’s accused of stabbing and killing his aunt, pregnant cousin and cousin’s boyfriend in 2015 inside his home on the 3500 block of 21st Street Southwest in Lehigh Acres.

Hyde is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and one count of killing an unborn child by injuring the mother, according to the state attorney’s office.

Investigators found Hyde’s fingerprints and bloody footprint at the home, but he entered a not-guilty plea.

MORE: Jury selection begins for Lehigh Acres triple-homicide trial

A jury was selected in a daylong court session Monday, but a new jury would have to be chosen before a second trial could begin. A pretrial conference will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday as prosecutors prepare to reboot their case.

A new trial isn’t expected until early next year.