Anne Hwang

A federal judge declared a mistrial in the arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the 2025 Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, after a deadlocked jury could not agree on a verdict. The jury was split 10-2 on all three charges against Rinderknecht, leading Judge Anne Hwang to cite 'manifest necessity' for the mistrial.

Opening statements began in the federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the deadly Palisades Fire near Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege he ignited the fire on January 1, 2025, using evidence like security footage and a seized lighter, while his defense claims he was watching fireworks and disputes proof of guilt. The fire killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Opening statements began in the federal arson trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of sparking the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Rinderknecht, who pleaded not guilty, faces charges including malicious destruction by fire, with prosecutors citing geolocation data and a seized lighter as evidence. The defense argues he is a scapegoat for the Los Angeles Fire Department's alleged negligence, but a judge ruled such claims irrelevant for the trial.

The man accused of starting the devastating Palisades Fire that killed 12 people met with victims before the trial as the jury was selected. Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, observed prospective jurors during the selection process.