A mistrial was declared Thursday in the murder case of a Meiners Oaks man accused of killing his roommate with a small sledgehammer in 2019, with a new trial slated to start next month.
The case against Cameron Lykins, 28, was continued to March 18, when another jury trial has been scheduled at Ventura County Superior Court. Lykins has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and has denied special allegations that could impact sentencing if he were to be convicted.
The mistrial came after items were inadvertently placed in front of the jury, a spokesperson for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said. Because the matter is set for another trial, no other details were released.
Lawyers made opening statements on Jan. 31. Prosecutors told jurors the defendant committed a “focused, brutal annihilation” of the victim at the home where the two men lived.
A public defender told jurors Lykins had “no choice” but to kill his best friend in self-defense.
The house is on a large property in the 1100 block of Myer Road in the unincorporated Meiners Oaks community, west of Ojai city limits.