Jury selection underway in arson trial

Jury selection is underway in a Columbia man’s arson trial.

Mehrdad Fotoohighiam faces charges of first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, but his trial this week is only on the arson charge.

Fotoohighiam is accused of paying an employee $500 in December 2014 to set fire to Marcia Green’s home. A jury acquitted the employee, James Hall, in July 2018. Green was awarded more than $2.75 million in a civil case last September for her injuries and damage to her property.

The prosecuting attorney said Monday in court Green would testify during the trial.

Judge Steven Russell Ohmer, a visiting judge from St. Louis, is conducting the trial in Boone County. A jury will be selected out of a group of more 100 people.

Ohmer said the trial could last until late next week.

Fotoohighiam was charged in December 2017 with murder conspiracy and attempted murder on accusation that he offered inmates at the Boone County Jail money to kill two people, including a circuit judge. It’s not clear when the trial on the other two counts will take place.

Follow ABC17 News on this developing story.