A Regina judge has declared a mistrial in a murder case because the three men accused did not have lawyers.

Joshua Wilson, Jonathan Peepeetch and Dennis Thompson are among six people, including two youths, charged with first-degree murder in the death of 54-year-old Shawn Douglas.

The Crown was set to begin presenting evidence Wednesday, but the judge declared a mistrial because all three accused didn’t have lawyers. Court heard two of the accused fired their lawyers last week, while the third lawyer withdrew from the case Wednesday.

The jury in the trial has been dismissed, and a new jury will be selected when a new trial begins on Oct. 5.

A Regina police dog found Douglas' body in a rural area northeast of the city in August 2014.