- BIST10011,430-2.49%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,136.70-0.56%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,341-0.62%
- October 20, 202612°
- BIST10011,430-2.49%
- USD49.45+0.05%
- EUR55.62+0.37%
- GOLD4,136.70-0.56%
- INTEREST37.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,341-0.62%
- October 20, 202612°
No verdict in federal arson case over deadly Palisades fire in California
ABD'de California tarihinin en ölümcül orman yangınlarından birine yol açtığı iddia edilen Jonathan Rinderknecht'in yargılandığı federal davada jüri karara varamadı. Hakim Anne Hwang, 10 jüri üyesinin sanığın masum olduğuna inandığını belirterek davanın yeniden görülmesine hükmetti.
A federal judge in the United States declared a mistrial on Friday in the arson case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, who was accused of starting the flames that became one of the deadliest wildfires in California history.
The decision came after the jury informed the court the previous day that it could not reach a unanimous verdict. Ten of the 12 jurors indicated they believed Rinderknecht was innocent.
Prosecution to retry the case
Federal prosecutors continue to charge Rinderknecht with intentionally setting a fire on January 1, 2025. U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said in a social media statement, "The evidence that Jonathan Rinderknecht is responsible for starting the fire that began on January 1, 2025, and later became the Palisades fire, is strong. We intend to retry this case before a new jury and seek a conviction on all counts."
Judge Hwang ordered Rinderknecht to remain in custody until his retrial, which is set to begin on October 19.
Fire that killed 12 people
The responsibility for the Palisades Fire, which destroyed entire neighborhoods along the coastline north of Los Angeles and killed 12 people, has become a contentious issue.
The prosecution alleges that Rinderknecht used a barbecue lighter to start a fire on January 1, 2025. Firefighters initially believed they had successfully extinguished the flames, but the fire reportedly continued to smolder undetected in the root system and reignited on January 7. Strong winds then spread the flames across the dry terrain, pushing the fire into residential areas and causing widespread destruction.
Juror's notable comment
A juror who identified herself only as Syrena told the Associated Press that it did not seem fair to blame Rinderknecht for the fires given the negligence of other parties. "There wasn't enough evidence," the juror said. "Shouldn't the firefighters have known?"
The government did not present definitive evidence that Rinderknecht directly started the initial fire; instead, it portrayed him as a disgruntled individual who was in the area where the fire began and who might have sought to vent his anger through arson.
The defendant's father, Joel Rinderknecht, said, "This is a huge victory, and it feels very unjust for the government to keep my son in jail under these circumstances."
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
