Retrial underway in case of 2005 Cleveland fire that killed woman, 8 children at sleepover
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Attorneys for both sides have laid out their cases to open the retrial of a man charged in a Cleveland fire that killed a woman and eight children at a birthday sleepover.
A prosecutor said Tuesday that Antun Lewis maliciously set the blaze in May 2005, but a defense attorney argued Lewis had no motive to do that.
Lewis won a new trial based on unreliable prosecution testimony from jailhouse informants. Some informants will be called again to testify.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Plain Dealer reports the defense plans to call different jailhouse informants who could cast doubt on other informants' testimony.
Authorities say Lewis was upset over a drug debt and dumped gasoline to set the fire.
The 29-year-old Lewis maintains his innocence. He could face life in prison if convicted.