Accused arsonist Ray Abou-Arab is to go on trial in February, more than three years after the Magnolia Street fire that killed two Toledo firefighters.
At a brief pre-trial hearing today, Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Stacy Cook set the trial for Feb. 6. She said she anticipates the death-penalty case will require approximately two weeks to seat a jury followed by three weeks for presentation of the case.
Mr. Abou-Arab, 63, formerly of Oregon is being held in the Lucas County jail on two counts of aggravated murder, each with death penalty specifications; two counts of murder, eight counts of aggravated arson, and one count of tampering with evidence for allegedly setting a Jan. 26, 2014 fire at a Magnolia Street building he owned.
The fire resulted in the deaths of Toledo Fire Pvts. Stephen Machcinski, 42, and James Dickman, 31.
Also today, Judge Cook denied a motion filed last year by defense attorneys seeking appointment of a special prosecutor, release of grand jury testimony, and dismissal of the indictment and death-penalty specifications.
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