The second trial of the men charged with stabbing a man to death Downtown five years ago began this morning with testimony from the witness who caused a mistrial the first time around.

A woman who was in Mellon Square Park the night of Michael Hixson's murder testified that she saw three men attack Mr. Hixson, 28, of McKeesport, early Sept. 12, 2003. She pointed out one of those men in the courtroom -- Leonard Ray "Cornbread" Anthony, 24. Mr. Anthony, along with co-defendant Kristopher E. "Dyce" Garner, 24, has been charged with Mr. Hixson's stabbing death.

The woman also identified Mr. Anthony when she testified at the first trial in July. Problem was, the prosecution didn't know she was going to do that. Senior Common Pleas Judge John K. Reilly declared a mistrial because of the "surprise evidence."

The third man allegedly involved in the killing, Marvin Harpool, 22, took a plea deal and is scheduled to testify against the other two men.