Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

German man convicted of setting dozens of fires in Los Angeles area

September 2, 2016 | By Reuters
Burkhart is detained by the Los Angeles county sheriff's department on suspicion of setting dozens of fires across Los Angeles, in West Hollywood

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A German national dubbed the “Hollywood Arsonist” was found guilty on Thursday of setting dozens of fires in the Los Angeles area nearly five years ago, prosecutors said.

Los Angeles County Superior Court jurors found Harry Burkhart, 29, guilty of 25 counts of arson of property, 18 counts of arson of an inhabited dwelling and other charges including possession of an incendiary device, the local district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Advertisement

Burkhart faces a possible sentence of more than 88 years in prison, the statement said.

The trial began on Aug. 15, and after closing arguments on Wednesday jurors deliberated for less than a day before returning their verdict.

At the trial’s opening statements, a prosecutor told jurors that Burkhart lit the fires because he was enraged by the deportation hearing of his Russian-born mother, Dorothee Burkhart, who was ordered to be extradited to Germany to face criminal charges.

Burkhart set more than 40 fires in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley and in nearby West Hollywood between Dec. 30, 2011, and his arrest on Jan. 2, 2012, prosecutors said.

The blazes charred cars and homes, causing an estimated $3 million in damages, but caused no deaths.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Leslie Adler)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC81023-VIEWIMAGE

← Previous Post Next Post →
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Share  On Facebook

Police feeling under siege after attacks: Attorney General

Cosby could face multiple accusers at June assault trial

Gawker privacy lawsuit evolves into battle of tech billionaires

NAACP leaders arrested during voting rights protest in Virginia

Former wrestler Hulk Hogan to serve on Gawker creditor committee

Trump loses bid to end Trump University lawsuit before trial

Demi Lovato sued for copyright infringement

‘Inferno’ world premiere set for Dante’s birthplace of Florence

More than 25,000 Madoff victims now eligible for $4 billion fund

French actor Belmondo says has done all he wanted in life

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy