Jury selected in Boone County arson trial

The jury was selected for the trial of a Columbia man accused of arson and a murder conspiracy Tuesday.

Mehrdad Fotoohighiam was charged with 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.

The judge selected 12 jurors and six alternates that will sit through Fotoohighiam’s trial Tuesday afternoon.

The 107 potential jurors were brought in for questioning Monday. By noon Monday, that number was cut in half. The prosecutor questioned the remaining jurors Monday afternoon, before they were dismissed for the evening. Work continued to winnow down the 107-member jury pool leading off Tuesday with questions from the defense attorney.

The St. Charles Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is handling the case while a judge from St. Louis presides over the trial.

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.

Due to a personal conflict, the judge dismissed the selected jury for the day. The trial will resume Wednesday morning with opening statements from each side.

Follow ABC17 News for updates on this developing story.