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Mistrial declared in Palisades fire arson case, a stunning blow to feds
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A mistrial was declared in the federal trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, a former Uber driver accused of starting the Palisades fire, after jurors deadlocked with a 10-2 vote favoring acquittal on all felony charges.
- U.S. District Judge Anne Hwang cited a "manifest necessity" for the mistrial due to the jury's inability to reach a unanimous verdict despite 13 hours of deliberation over two days.
- Prosecutors plan to retry Rinderknecht, asserting strong evidence of his responsibility for igniting the fire that led to the deadly and destructive Palisades fire in January 2025.
- The defense argued there was reasonable doubt, presenting alternative theories including fireworks as the fire's cause, and highlighting the jury's significant dissent as evidence against conviction.
- The Palisades fire killed 12 people, destroyed 6,500 structures, and caused billions in damages, with prosecutors describing Rinderknecht's alleged motive as mental decline and vengeance against the wealthy.
