The judge presiding over the murder case against Jerry Lamont Scantling declared a mistrial today after a juror backed out and an alternate juror revealed ties to the victim.

Before Tuesday’s opening proceedings, a juror asked Judge John Hayes to excuse her because of religious beliefs that she said prevented her from convicting someone of murder.

Today, the alternate juror called in to replace her revealed he had worked with victim Leonard Green at Hilton Head Hospital in 2006.

Scantling is accused of fatally shooting 52-year-old Green at the Pinckney Island boat landing in May 2010. He has been in custody on unrelated charges since a few days after Green’s death and was charged with murder a year later after DNA testing results were completed, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

14th Judicial Circuit spokesman Daniel Brownstein said prosecutors are hoping to reschedule before the end of the year.

Check back on islandpacket.com soon for more details.