(October 10, 2008)—A courtroom brawl that broke out Thursday during the sentencing phase of a murder trial forced Travis County sheriff's deputies to intervene with pepper spray.

The melee erupted as a judge was sentencing a man to 25 years in prison for murder.

Family members of the victim tried to push their way past the bar toward the judge’s bench, Prosecutor Bill Bishop said Thursday.

According to the sheriff’s office, the brouhaha lasted roughly five minutes; two people were arrested for hindering a courtroom proceeding by disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.

In all, about 25 members of the murder victim's family were in court. Officials say that while many were yelling, only two or three were trying to get past the bar.