Jury selection starts in Key West murder trial of businessman

Jury selection began Jan. 13 at the Freeman Justice Center in Key West for the long-scheduled trial over the Feb. 13, 2023, shooting death of 21-year-old Garrett Daniel Hughes. The defendant, Lloyd Preston Brewer, a local businessman with extensive holdings, faces a first-degree murder indictment and related charges in a case that has reverberated through Monroe County.

Prosecutors say the fatal shooting occurred outside a New Town bar after Hughes was seen relieving himself on a nearby wall. Surveillance footage and witness accounts are central to the case, and both sides are expected to focus on those pieces of evidence as proceedings move forward. Earlier legal maneuvering included a defense effort invoking Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, a request that was rejected, and several continuances that delayed the trial.

During voir dire, several potential jurors disclosed personal or professional connections to either the victim or the defendant, prompting individual questioning to determine impartiality. The court’s screening process underscored the challenge of seating an unbiased jury in a community where social networks are tight and local reputations matter.

The trial’s start brings immediate local implications. For New Town residents and business owners across Key West, the case raises questions about public safety in nightlife districts and the responsibilities of patrons and property owners. The involvement of a well-known local businessman also spotlights how social and economic influence intersects with criminal justice in a small community. The delay between the 2023 incident and the 2026 trial has kept the case in public view, contributing to tensions and calls for transparency.

Public confidence in law enforcement and the court process is a central stake. The outcome will influence how residents perceive the ability of the justice system to hold influential community members to account and to resolve high-profile violent incidents. It may also shape local conversations about night-time public order, the enforcement of public decency laws, and the role of video evidence in prosecutions.

As the trial proceeds, courtroom procedures are likely to remain closely watched. The individual questioning of jurors highlighted the court’s attempt to protect impartiality in a community where relationships run deep. For Monroe County residents, the case is more than a legal contest; it is a test of how the community balances safety, accountability, and fairness when the people involved are known neighbors and local business figures.

What comes next is a full trial after jury empanelment, during which the admitted evidence and witness testimony will determine whether jurors find the prosecution has met the high burden required for a first-degree murder conviction. The decision will shape local trust in institutions and could prompt renewed discussion about public-safety measures in Key West’s busy neighborhoods.