Moments after a jury was finally sworn in for the trial of five teenagers charged with murder, a juror revealed he grew up with the mother of one of the defendants.

Pusine Judge Charles-Etta Simmons then discharged the jury after about an hour of legal arguments because the defence and prosecution agreed it was unfair to start the trial with just 11 jurors.

Because the trial is expected to last for six to eight weeks, if more than one juror gets sick or is unable to serve any longer, a mistrial would be declared.

The law says a jury can sit with a minimum of 10 jurors.

Counsel proposed the remaining 11 jurors should be discharged but put back into the jury pool for re-selection either tomorrow or Monday morning.

They will meet this afternoon with Mrs. Justice Simmons to figure out the best way to proceed with the trial.

Kellan Jeaurreau Lewis, 17, Kevin Andre Warner, 19, Gary Rupert Hollis, 16, Devon Vonzell Hairston, 17, and Zharrin Frankie Simmons, 17 pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to murdering Kellon Hill.

Lewis further denied possession of a knife, Warner denied having a wooden cane, Hollis and Hairston both denied possession of a protective crash helmet and Simmons denied having a screwdriver, all on August 9 last year.

Mr. Hill was allegedly stabbed to death as he left a late night party at Elbow Beach, in Paget.

See tomorrow’s Royal Gazette for the full story.