Jury hears Kayla’s friends relive chaotic moments before deadly shooting in day 4 of Stein trial

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Jurors hear witness testimony on the fourth day of a murder trial for Thomas Stein, who is accused of killing 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller in March 2024 in Cape Coral.

On Thursday, two of the girls who were with Kayla on the night of her death were called to the stand as witnesses.

Kayla's friends Emma Wright, 19, and Louann Dejaie, 18, took to the stand to recount the moments leading up to the deadly shooting.

Both witnesses testified that they had just seen a movie with Kayla and were walking down the street to find somewhere to eat when an SUV began tailing them.

A group then jumped from the van and attempted to rob the group of friends, and shots were fired.

Dejaie said that she saw Kayla lower herself onto the ground and exclaim that she had been shot. Dejaie said she then tried to call 911, but her hands were "shaking so bad."

Stein is accused of first-degree murder and attempted robbery. One of the defining moments of the trial is expected to be when Stein's co-defendant, Christopher Horne Jr., testifies against Stein as a part of a plea deal.

Trial's chaotic start

Stein's trial began on Monday, but was thrust into chaos as all potential jury members were dismissed after a verbal altercation between Stein and Horne's families occurred in the hallway of the courthouse during the lunch break.

When the potential jurors returned to the courtroom, the judge asked them if any of them had heard the commotion. The judge met with the prosecution and defense, and every potential juror was dismissed.

The jury selection process restarted on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Jahmil Vega with the Cape Coral Police Department was called to the stand as a witness.

The trial is expected to last for at least five days, as unanswered questions about who fired the shots that led to Kayla Rincon-Miller's death remain.

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