A jury deliberating the arson trial of the man accused of igniting what became the deadly Pacific Palisades fire said Thursday it is deadlocked after previously indicating it had reached a verdict, according to ABC7.
Jurors told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Anne Hwang they were unable to reach a unanimous decision in the trial of Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is charged with arson in connection with the fire.
“We have people on both sides that are dead set, unwavering and unwilling to change their opinion,” the jury wrote in a note read aloud by Hwang.
“We are at a standstill. We are unsure how to proceed.”
The development came after jurors had earlier told the court they had reached a verdict, raising expectations the closely watched trial was nearing its conclusion. Instead, the panel later advised the court that deliberations had broken down.
Hwang instructed jurors to return Friday and continue deliberating. The panel is scheduled to resume discussions at 9 a.m.
The case centers on allegations that Rinderknecht intentionally set a fire that prosecutors say grew into one of the most destructive wildfires to affect the Los Angeles area.
Tagged:
Local
BACK TO HOMEPAGE
