Update: Castle West fire

The case

Early Jan. 16, 2007, the 135-unit Castle West Apartment Complex near Academy Boulevard and Uintah Street was destroyed by fire, leaving hundreds homeless.

The victims

Joe Santoyo, 52, and Clemente Perez Salgado, 32, died in the fire.

The main suspect

Derrick "Nicky" Johnson, 24, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, firstdegree arson and six other felonies. Colorado Springs police allege Johnson used gas to spread the fire after threatening his girlfriend, who was staying at Castle West that night, according to an arrest affidavit.

What's new

Johnson's court-appointed attorneys, Rick Levinson and Ann Kaufman, tried to convince 4th Judicial District Judge Jann DuBois to move Johnson's trial out of El Paso County. They argued that hundreds of newspaper and television news reports about the case created "massive, pervasive and prejudicial" publicity and that Johnson could not get a fair trial here. Chief Deputy District Attorney Margaret Vellar countered that most of the publicity came in 2007, much of the information in those reports is admissible evidence at trial and that potential jurors would be able to set aside any opinions formed about the case.

What's next

DuBois said she needs time to review the survey Johnson's attorneys submitted, as well as all the newspaper articles and television reports. She said she will issue a ruling Friday. Derrick Johnson's trial, which is expected to last two months, is scheduled to start Oct. 14. He remains held without bond at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. Johnson has pleaded not guilty to all charges.