A jury heard opening statements Tuesday in the trial of Todd Russell Fries, who is accused of setting chemical bombs and trying to kill a Tucson couple.Β
Fries faces a 27-count indictment, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder. The charges stem from a 2009 incident in which chemical tablets were set on fire outside the house of a northwest side couple, causing plumes of chlorine to spew into the air on their property.Β
Prosecutor Sterling Struckmeyer painted Fries, who owned a power washing company, as an unbalanced man who became irate and started the "Levine project" to terrorize and try to kill the couple over a $500 bill dispute. Defense attorney Richard Bock said Fries' actions amounted to little more than malicious mischief.Β
Fries is serving a 17-year sentence in federal prison after being convicted in 2012 and 2013 of two counts of unlawful possession and use of a chemical weapon, providing false information to federal agents, and two counts of unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices. Β
