Associated Press - April 25, 2009 1:04 PM ET

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) - A Cochise County judge has declared a mistrial in a murder case because the defendant's brother dropped his pants, gestured and made threatening comments in the presence of jurors.

Judge Wallace Hoggatt ended the trial on Friday after jurors reported seeing and hearing acts by Steven Kastner outside the courtroom.

Kastner was attending the trial of his brother, 28-year-old Jonathan Arthur Ramil. Ramil is charged with first-degree murder for the June 2008 slaying of 43-year-old Patrick Gleason in a Willcox home.

Kastner admitted he pulled down his pants when questioned by Hoggatt, but said he did so as a joke and didn't realize jurors were nearby. He denied making a gesture that a juror reported or making remarks that another juror overheard.

Hoggatt reset the trial for June 1 and barred Kastner from the courthouse.

Information from: Sierra Vista Herald, http://www.svherald.com

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