Yuma Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend by Fire Returns to Court

James Hill, the 57-year-old Yuma man accused of setting his girlfriend on fire, returned to court Thursday as his murder case continues to accumulate delays, with a pretrial conference now scheduled for April 30.

The victim, 34-year-old September Weisinger, died of smoke inhalation. Her charred body was found in June last year next to a fire pit adjacent to the trailer where she had been living near Senator Wash in Winterhaven, California, just across the Colorado River from Yuma. The killing occurred in Imperial County.

Hill, described as Weisinger's on-again, off-again boyfriend and friend, was arrested roughly two months after her body was discovered. Investigators have not publicly released details about what led them to identify him as a suspect.

The case hit another procedural snag when Hill retained a private attorney, a change prosecutors say could push back the path to trial. Deputy District Attorney Wayne Chang declined to characterize Hill's legal strategy but drew a sharp line around the stakes involved. "I can't speak to what efforts he is making or why he is doing things," Chang said. "But I would note this is a murder case." Chang added that murder cases often involve complicated legal and evidentiary issues, and that preparing for a potential trial, including the possibility of calling witnesses, can take considerable time.

Hill appeared in court Thursday with supporters in the gallery. Among them was Mark Grimes, who said he has known Hill since the two were children growing up together. "We met each other when we were 7 years old, and we have been together ever since," Grimes said. "It upsets me to see him in there. He's a great guy, an honorable man. He didn't do this."

Hill is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. His next court appearance is set for the April 30 pretrial conference.