Accused LA wildfire arsonist wanted ‘revenge on society’, prosecutors say as trial opens

Prosecutors stated that Jonathan Rinderknecht, accused of starting the deadly Palisades fire on New Year's Day 2025, sought revenge on society. The trial began on Wednesday with opening arguments, where the prosecution portrayed Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old Uber driver, as an arsonist attempting to conceal his actions. Conversely, his defense team contended that fireworks were the actual cause of the blaze. The fire, initially extinguished by firefighters in the Pacific Palisades, reignited due to strong winds after smoldering underground. This wildfire became the most destructive in Los Angeles city history, burning approximately 23,000 acres, destroying thousands of structures, and resulting in 12 fatalities.