Mistrial In North Adams Assault Case

The trial of two North Adams men accused of taking part in a 2017 assault and stabbing ended in a mistrial on Wednesday even before any witness testimony was heard in court.

The Berkshire Eagle reports that the trial got underway on Tuesday with opening statements from First Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Karen Bell and the attorneys for the two defendants, 29-year-old Ryan Peterson and 24-year-old Keith Larrabee.

Late in those proceedings Tuesday however, an issue came up that created a conflict for the two attorneys representing Peterson, who were then forced to withdraw from the case. And with the trial already underway and Peterson now without counsel, Judge John Agostini allowed a defense's motion to declare a mistrial.