Columbia man back in court after first case ends in mistrial
A Columbia man accused of being paid to set a home on fire in December 2014 will be back in court Tuesday.
James Hall, 42, went to trial for first-degree arson in in February 2018, but according to online court records, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Hall was allegedly paid by Mehrdad Fotoohighiam, 64, of Columbia, Hall’s boss at the time, to burn down Fotoohighiam’s neighbor’s home while she was still inside.
The neighbor was found bleeding with second-degree burns after escaping the home off Rock Quarry Road, firefighters said.
Hall’s trial is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse.
