By PETER SMITH (Associated Press)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver who spewed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of barging right into a Pittsburgh synagogue and taking pictures everybody he might discover, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could possibly be sentenced to die.
The responsible verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers’ personal attorneys conceded on the trial’s outset that he attacked and killed worshippers on the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, within the deadliest assault on Jews in U.S. historical past. Jurors should now resolve whether or not the 50-year-old must be despatched to loss of life row or sentenced to life in jail with out parole because the federal trial shifts to a penalty part anticipated to final a number of weeks.
Bowers was convicted of all 63 prison counts he confronted, together with hate crimes leading to loss of life and obstruction of the free train of faith leading to loss of life. His attorneys had supplied a responsible plea in return for a life sentence, however prosecutors refused, opting as an alternative to take the case to trial and pursue the loss of life penalty. Most of the victims’ households expressed assist for the choice.
“I am grateful to God for getting us to this day,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the assault, mentioned in a written assertion. “And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray.”
The jury deliberated about 5 hours over two days earlier than reaching a verdict. Bowers, sporting a darkish sweater and blue shirt, had little response, as has usually been the case all through the trial. Several survivors and family members of the deceased victims’ have been within the courtroom, bearing quiet witness. A couple of sniffles have been heard in he gallery because the decide intoned “guilty” dozens of instances.
Bowers turned a sacred home of worship right into a “hunting ground,” concentrating on his victims due to their faith, a prosecutor informed jurors on Thursday. Reading the names of every of the 11 victims he killed, prosecutor Mary Hahn requested the jury to “hold this defendant accountable … and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.”
Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and different weapons, additionally shot and wounded seven, together with 5 responding law enforcement officials.
Prosecutors offered proof of his deep-seated animosity towards Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors discovered that Bowers had extensively posted, shared or appreciated antisemitic and white supremacist content material on Gab, a social media platform widespread with the far proper, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers informed police that “all these Jews need to die,” Hahn mentioned.
Survivors testified in regards to the terror they felt that day, together with a girl who recounted how she was shot within the arm after which realized her 97-year-old-mother had been shot and killed proper subsequent to her. Andrea Wedner, the trial’s final witness, informed jurors she touched her mom’s lifeless physique and cried out, “Mommy,” earlier than SWAT officers led her to security.
Carole Zawatsky, CEO of the Tree of Life Congregation, mentioned Friday she hoped the decision would supply survivors and victims’ members of the family with “some level of comfort and helps to ease the pain, even if ever so slightly.”
With Bowers’ guilt established, survivors and members of the family of the deceased victims are anticipated to inform the jury in regards to the devastating influence of his crimes. The penalty part is scheduled to start out June 26.
Bowers’ attorneys didn’t mount a protection on the guilt stage of the trial, signaling they are going to focus their efforts on attempting to avoid wasting his life. They plan to introduce proof that Bowers has schizophrenia, epilepsy and mind impairments. Defense lawyer Judy Clarke had additionally sought to boost questions on Bowers’ motive, suggesting to jurors that his rampage was not motivated by non secular hatred however his delusional perception that Jews have been committing genocide by serving to refugees settle within the United States.
The three congregations that shared the synagogue constructing — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — have spoken out in opposition to antisemitism and different types of bigotry because the assault. The Tree of Life congregation is also engaged on a plan to overtake the synagogue constructing — which nonetheless stands however has been closed because the shootings — by creating a fancy that will home a sanctuary, museum, memorial and heart for preventing antisemitism.
The trial came about three years after President Joe Biden mentioned throughout his 2020 marketing campaign that he would work to finish capital punishment on the federal stage and in states that also use it. His lawyer normal, Merrick Garland, has briefly paused executions to assessment insurance policies and procedures. But federal prosecutors proceed to vigorously work to uphold already-issued loss of life sentences and, in some instances, to pursue the loss of life penalty at trial for crimes which can be eligible, as in Bowers’ case.
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Associated Press reporter Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.
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Associated Press faith protection receives assist by the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely accountable for this content material.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”