Judge declares mistrial in case against Palisades Fire arson suspect, Justice Department says
Prosecutors say Alexandre Rinderknecht set the blaze that burned 23,448 acres and destroyed roughly 6,800 structures before the jury began deliberating.
- On Friday, U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang declared a mistrial in the federal arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht after jurors deadlocked, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on three charges tied to the deadly Palisades Fire.
- Prosecutors alleged Rinderknecht ignited the Lachman Fire on January 1, 2025, using a grill lighter; the blaze allegedly smoldered underground before resurfacing as the destructive Palisades Fire that destroyed about 6,800 structures.
- Defense attorney Steven Haney challenged the circumstantial evidence, arguing errant fireworks likely caused the fire and stating, "Whatever evidence might've been there was buried, crushed... or floated away in water."
- Federal prosecutors vowed to retry the case, with First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stating the office intends to "obtain guilty verdicts on all charged counts" before a new jury.
- The legal battle unfolds amid the 2025 disaster's toll: the fire burned 23,448 acres, destroyed about 6,800 structures, and killed 12 people, underscoring the stakes of complex fire dynamics analysis in this proceeding.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Palisades fire arson case ends in mistrial
A Los Angeles federal judge declared a mistrial Friday after a jury could not reach a verdict for a 30-year-old man charged with setting one of the most destructive fires in California history. The post Palisades fire arson case ends in mistrial appeared first on West Hawaii Today.
‘A punch in the face.' Palisades Fire survivors react to arson mistrial
Friday’s announcement of a mistrial in the case against the Palisades Fire arson suspect evoked mixed emotions among those who are trying to rebuild their community after surviving the devastating wildfire. Some of the Pacific Palisades neighbors said they were confused and frustrated by the mistrial amid the ongoing struggle to restore their homes and neighborhood. “I hope they re-try him and that we have a more definitive outcome,” Aileen Haug…
Mistrial declared in trial over deadly Palisades Fire
After two days of deliberations, a federal judge declared a mistrial in the case concerning the origin of the devastating January 2025 fires in Los Angeles. NBC News' Misty Marris explains how the judge reached the mistrial verdict.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
