Prosthetic Eye Pops Out, Causes Mistrial

Ocular prosthesis

The victim of an assault that cost him his left eye was testifying Wednesday at the Philadelphia trial of his alleged assailant Mark Brunelli. During his emotional testimony, John Huttick’s eye popped out of his face. Huttick caught the eye as two startled jurors stood up in their seats. “I couldn’t believe it just came out,” he said.

Defense attorney Eileen Hurley made a motion for mistrial, which Judge Robert Coleman granted, calling the event an ”unfortunate, unforeseen incident.” The new trial is scheduled for March 4.

On August 18, 2011 Huttick was working as a bouncer at the New Princeton Tavern. Brunelli and a woman were leaving the bar when Brunelli got into a fight with another bar patron. When Huttick intervened, Brunelli allegedly threw a punch that caused Huttick to lose his eye. Brunelli’s attorney says her client acted in self-defense and used only his fist, while the prosecution argues that he had a metal key between his knuckles.