Jurors in the federal trial of a man accused of starting the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire in California told a judge on Thursday that the panel was deadlocked — shortly after previously stating they had reached a verdict.The announcement came on the second day of deliberations in the trial against Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, following a 10-day federal trial over the blaze.The conflagration stands as the most destructive in Los Angeles County's history and claimed at least a dozen lives.A note sent by the jury foreman to the judge initially stated that the panel had reached a verdict.
However, a second note sent just minutes later claimed the opposite."We have people on both sides that are dead-set.Unwavering.
We are at a standstill.We are unsure how to proceed," the note read.DANIEL PENNY JURORS TELL JUDGE THEY CAN'T AGREE ON TOP CHARGE IN SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD CASEA firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles on Jan.
11, 2025.Jonathan Rinderknecht, the suspect facing charges related to the blaze, is shown at right.
On Thursday, jurors in Rinderknecht's federal trial told a judge they remained deadlocked.(Jae C.
Hong/AP; Department of Justice/Reuters)In response, the judge asked the jury what the court could do to assist them."For example, would an additional instruction or the re-reading of any testimony help the jury in their deliberations?" the judge asked."There is nothing the court can do to assist the jury in their deliberations.Additional instructions or rereading the testimony would not help in deliberations.
Unfortunately, we cannot reach a unanimous verdict," the jury replied.HARVEY WEINSTEIN RAPE TRIAL ENDS IN MISTRIAL AFTER JURY DEADLOCKEDBoth the prosecution and defense agreed they needed more time to research legal options after the jury's latest update.The judge eventually instructed the jurors to return and resume deliberations at 9 a.m.
Friday.An aerial view shows the fire damage caused by the Palisades Fire in Pacifi...