LIVE BLOG: Castle West fire trial

Gazette reporter Dennis Huspeni will be blogging live from the Colorado Springs courtroom where prosecutors laid out the case against Derrick "Nicky" Johnson Wednesday during opening statements of the Castle West Apartments arson trial, saying his "anger, jealousy and control" killed two and left hundreds homeless.

Opening arguments Wednesday in Castle West fire trial

Prosecutors laid out the case against Derrick "Nicky" Johnson Wednesday during opening statements of the Castle West Apartments arson trial, saying his "anger, jealousy and control" killed two and left hundreds homeless.

Johnson, 25, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, arson, attempted murder and being a habitual criminal in connection with the Jan. 16, 2007, fire that destroyed the 135-unit complex near Academy Boulevard and Uintah Street.

Joe Santoyo, 52, and Clemente Perez Salgado, 32, died in the fire, suffering "incredibly horrible burns," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Margaret Vellar.

"Derrick Johnson's anger, jealousy and control led to total destruction," Vellar told the 15 jurors, including three alternates. The trial is expected to last three months. "He left people without homes. He left people dead."

Vellar went on to tell jurors about Johnson's fight with his baby's mother, Najua Bell-Jackson, and how he called or sent text messages to her 50 times on Jan. 15, 2007, and threatened to kill her and burn down Castle West.

"Within a half-hour to 45 minutes after the defendant threatened Najua Bell-Jackson with burning and bombing the Castle West, the apartments were on fire," Vellar said.

Johnson gave several versions of events that night to Colorado Springs police, from denying being at Castle West, to blaming his cousin Gene Johnson, to finally showing them where the gas can he bought from 7-Eleven was hidden.

"I was in a rage," Johnson told his other girlfriend after the fire, Vellar said.

But Johnson's court-appointed attorney, Shimon Kohn, told jurors prosecutors want them to wear blinders and ignore important evidence that casts doubt on his client's guilt.

Colorado Springs police stopped investigating the case after they had Johnson in custody, Kohn said.Gene Johnson should be considered a suspect, Kohn said. He had gasoline on his jeans, Kohn said. Prosecutors say he had nothing to do with the fire, other than riding with Johnson that night.

Gene Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to accessory and is listed as a prosecution witness.

Fourth Judicial District Judge Jann DuBois, who is also presiding over Derrick Johnson's trial, sentenced Gene Johnson to three years in prison earlier this year.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on one thing: The fire started outside apartment B-19.

Kohn said residents of that apartment were due to be evicted just two days after the fire and that a witness saw one of them walking into the apartment with a gas can.

"It's our fault," Kohn said one of those residents said in the parking lot immediately after the fire. "It got out of control. I couldn't control it."

"Look outside the tunnel the DA wants you in," Kohn said. "Ask who really had the motive to start this fire."

Johnson could face life in prison without parole if convicted of first-degree murder. He is being held without bond at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.