A Jackson County murder trial has ended abruptly after a judge declared a mistrial.

Defendant Robert Dennis had an outburst in court Wednesday, forcing Judge William Schwartz to have Dennis removed from the court room. The judge also ordered Dennis, who was defending himself, to undergo a fitness examination.

Dennis was on trial for the murder of Robin Steif in August 2016. Dennis and two women are accused of trying to hide Steif’s body near Piles Fork Creek in Carbondale.