Los Angeles

German National Convicted in 3-Night Los Angeles Arson Spree

A German national was convicted Thursday of more than four dozen charges for going on a Southland arson spree over a roughly three-day period in 2011-12.

A second phase of trial of Harry Burkhart, 29, will begin Tuesday, when jurors will be asked to determine if he was sane at the time of the crimes.

Burkhart was convicted of going on a three-night arson spree and setting more than 40 fires in Hollywood, West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley.

He said he "wanted America to burn" and "was going to resolve his grievance through fire and fear," a prosecutor told jurors in a previous court appearance.

A defense attorney countered, however, that prosecutors can only tie his client to six or seven of the fires and told jurors they would also hear evidence to support an insanity plea.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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