A homicide trial in Pennsylvania was declared a mistrial after a judge smelled marijuana coming from the jury room during a lunch break, and no juror would admit to smoking it. Defence attorney Owen Seman said he could not continue the trial of his client, Safon Gump, once it became clear a juror was being untruthful, given the seriousness of a murder case. The episode highlights how a seemingly minor breach of courtroom conduct can derail a major criminal trial.

Gump, 25, was on trial for the 2024 killing of Gregory Prince, 38, allegedly shot following a dispute over a damaged car. After Common Pleas Judge Edward J Borkowski detected the smell during a break, all 12 jurors and two alternates were individually questioned in chambers, with each denying having taken anything legal or illegal, though one recalled smelling marijuana near the men's bathroom. Unable to identify the culprit, and with prosecutors agreeing a mistrial was necessary, the case was halted; Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus said it was the first such mistrial he had encountered caused by drug use among jurors.