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"It was surreal," a courtroom observer told the Miami Herald.
Gutierrez rushed out of the courtroom and returned a few minutes later, claiming the sudden fire was the result of a faulty e-cigarette battery and not part of a staged stunt to illustrate his defense.
Charles was found guilty and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the bizarre incident.
Police collected several e-cigarette batteries from Gutierrez's pocket for evidence and Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman may find him in contempt of court.