SALT LAKE CITY — What was supposed to be a five-day murder trial stalled Tuesday afternoon after a judge declared a mistrial.

Court records show 3rd District Judge Dennis Fuchs' determination came in the case of Francisco Alverez, 56, after defense attorneys moved for a mistrial.

Alverez's attorney, Robert Engar, said he couldn't go into detail about what happened, but the concern was about the integrity of the jury.

"Something happened that tainted the jury," Engar said. "We had to move for a mistrial, and the judge granted it. Now, we're going to set another trial date."

A scheduling conference has been set for Nov. 5.

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It should have been a typical evening of baseball at the park.

"You generally don't want a case to mistry," Engar said. "We were prepared, (prosecutors) were prepared, they want to get it done. Sometimes these things happen, and that's all you can do."

Tuesday was the second day in the trial of Alverez, who was charged with murder, a first-degree felony; possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; and discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony, in connection with a May 2011 shooting that left Jorge Veracruz, 29, dead.

Police say Veracruz and Alverez were arguing when Alverez pulled out a gun and shot Veracruz three times.

The incident drew attention because it took place in broad daylight in a park where numerous baseball games were taking place.

A Little League baseball coach, Brandon Schroeder, testified at a previous hearing that he heard the gunshots and took off running, as directed by bystanders and witnesses, after a man on a bike.

Schroeder said the man on the bike was trying to dispose of the gun. When he fell from the bike trying to do so, Schroeder tackled him.

Alverez later told police Veracruz was trying to rob him.

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