By Alabama Public Radio
Auburn AL – A mistrial was declared in the case of a Mobile man charged with stabbing Auburn University students on the eve of last year's Iron Bowl. Witnesses say five people were stabbed occurred outside a fraternity house after a group of people became loud and shouted, ``Roll Tide'' . The mistrial was declared yesterday after a witness the defense promised would confess to the stabbings decided not to testify yesterday. Defense Attorney John Williams said in his opening statements that Louie Lotz would confess to the crime, and that would prove his client Joey Michael Barrett Junior was innocent. However, Judge Jacob Walker interviewed the Lotz without the jury present and discovered the witness was mentally retarded and had not consulted an attorney. When Walker assigned two attorneys to Lotz, he decided not to testify. A prosecutor asked for a mistrial, contending the jury had been prejudiced. The judge granted the motion.