US: Man discovered responsible for Pittsburgh synagogue assault that killed 11 Jewish folks

By Associated Press: A truck driver who spewed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of storming a Pittsburgh synagogue and capturing everybody he may discover on a Sabbath morning, 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’ attorneys conceded on the trial’s outset that he attacked and killed worshippers on the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018, within the deadliest assault on Jews in US historical past.

Jurors should now resolve whether or not the 50-year-old needs to be despatched to demise 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 demise and obstruction of the free train of faith leading to demise. His attorneys had supplied a responsible plea in return for a life sentence, however prosecutors refused, opting as a substitute to take the case to trial and pursue the demise penalty. Most of the victims’ households supported that call.

“I am grateful to God for getting us to this day,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the assault, stated in a written assertion. “And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the US Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray.”

The jury deliberated for about 5 hours over two days earlier than reaching a verdict. Bowers, sporting a darkish sweater and blue shirt, had little response. Several survivors and victims’ relations had been within the courtroom, bearing quiet witness. Sniffles could possibly be heard within the gallery because the decide intoned “guilty” dozens of occasions.

Bowers, who had raged towards Jews on-line and on the synagogue, turned a sacred home of worship right into a “hunting ground,” focusing on his victims due to their faith, a prosecutor stated Thursday.

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Reading every of the 11 victims’ names, prosecutor Mary Hahn requested the jury to “hold this defendant accountable … and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.”

All three congregations sharing the constructing — Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life — misplaced members within the assault. The victims ranged in age from 54 to 97.

Congregational leaders stated the trial opened new wounds however was additionally validating.

“We learned things that we did not know,” stated Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light. “… In that sense, it was traumatizing. But it’s also, in a sense, cathartic because you did hear what happened.”

Jo Recht, president of Dor Hadash, applauded the prosecutors’ strong case.

“They drew a picture that was even more horrific than we had imagined,” Recht stated. “And the level of antisemitism, the level of hatred, the volume of the outrageous (social media) posts was really sobering and really frightening. So for the jury to come back so quickly with the verdict of guilty on all 63 counts was affirming, and it was a relief.”

Prosecutors offered proof of Bowers’ deep-seated animosity towards Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors realized that he had extensively posted, shared or appreciated antisemitic and white supremacist content material on Gab, a social media platform in style with the far proper, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers informed police that “all these Jews need to die,” Hahn stated.

Jewish group members had been bracing for the subsequent stage of the trial, which might decide if Bowers is eligible for and will obtain the demise penalty. The penalty part is scheduled to begin June 26.

“It’s just as traumatic,” Cohen stated. “Because now we get into learning about the shooter. In four and a half years, he has said nothing. We don’t know who he is. … There’s no background, nothing other than the Gab posts. So we’re going to be learning what kind of horrible human being he really is.”

Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and different weapons, additionally shot and wounded seven, together with 5 responding law enforcement officials.

Survivors testified about their terror on that day, together with a lady 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.

Other survivors testified of hiding or fleeing for his or her lives, of constructing remaining prayers as they anticipated to die, of claiming farewell to their slain fellow congregants. The slain had been among the many congregations’ stalwarts, at all times on time for Sabbath actions, lots of which they led.

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Bowers’ attorneys didn’t mount a protection on the guilt stage of the trial, signaling they are going to focus their efforts on making an attempt to save lots of his life. They plan to introduce proof that Bowers has schizophrenia, epilepsy and mind impairments. Defense lawyer Judy Clarke had additionally sought to lift questions on Bowers’ motive, suggesting to jurors that his rampage was not motivated by non secular hatred however his delusional perception that Jews had been committing genocide by serving to refugees settle within the United States.

The congregations have spoken out towards antisemitism and different 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 may home a sanctuary, museum, memorial and heart for preventing antisemitism.

President Joe Biden stated throughout his 2020 marketing campaign that he would work to finish capital punishment on the federal stage and in states that also use it, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has paused executions to evaluation insurance policies and procedures. But federal prosecutors proceed to work to uphold already-issued demise sentences and, in some instances, to pursue the demise penalty at trial for crimes which might be eligible, as in Bowers’ case.

Killed had been Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; brothers David Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59; Bernice Simon, 84, and her husband, Sylvan Simon, 86; Dan Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; Irving Younger, 69.

Ellen Surloff, who was Dor Hadash president on the time of the assault, stated listening to the responsible verdicts was a reduction.

“Fighting antisemitism was always important to my family,” she stated. “My mother passed away not long after the shooting. So from a personal matter, the first thought that went to my head was, I wish she could have been alive to hear the verdict, to hear this horrible, horrible monster convicted for what he did on Oct. 27.”