Jurors in Kitsap County get murder, arson case

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (AP) _ Jurors in Kitsap County have started deliberating in the trial of a Bremerton woman accused of setting a fire that killed her longtime boyfriend.

The Kitsap Sun says (http://goo.gl/1RPCZi ) 46-year-old Shelly Arndt is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Darcy Veeder Jr.

She is also charged with arson as well as six counts of assault connected to friends and family who were also in the house at the time. She denies setting the fire.

Prosecutors told jurors in closing arguments Wednesday that Arndt had a history of violence toward Veeder and wanted to ``ge rid of him.'' Arndt was convicted of second-degree arson in 2011.

Arndt's attorney, David LaCross, says the county fire marshal's investigation was inadequate and that calls into question the entire case against his client.

Deliberations began Thursday.