A gunman accused of killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 has been found guilty by a jury in the US state of Pennsylvania.

The federal trial of Robert Bowers, 50, now moves to the sentencing phase, with the court poised to decide whether he should be given the death penalty.

The 27 October assault inside the Tree of Life synagogue was the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history.

Bowers pleaded not guilty to all 63 charges against him.

The jury convicted him on all counts after less than a full day of deliberations.

During the three-week trial, prosecutors called 60 witnesses as they tried to prove the gunman carried out his attack because of a hatred for Jews.

Bowers' defence team did not call any witnesses and did not deny he carried out the attack, but said it was due to a delusional hatred for immigrants and a Jewish non-profit group, not Jewish people.

US Attorney Mary Hahn said in closing arguments on Thursday that the defendant had "hunted" his victims.

"He outright told Swat operators he went to the synagogue to kill Jews," she said.

Defence attorney Elisa Long had argued that "stopping religious study was not his intent or motive".

The distinction is important because under US federal law, in order for the jury to impose the death penalty prosecutors must prove that Bowers was motivated by race hate or killed people to stop them exercising their religious beliefs.

A psychiatric evaluation of Bowers has been prepared by the government, and the state of his mental health may be raised during the sentencing.

That hearing will begin on 26 June and is expected to last six weeks.

The 11 worshippers who died in the attack ranged in age from 54 to 97. Seven others were injured, including five police officers who rushed to the scene.

Three congregations - Dor Hadash, New Light and the Tree of Life - shared the synagogue.

Most families of those killed have voiced support for the death penalty, although some other family members and the Dor Hadash congregation have stated that they are opposed to it.

Community groups, Jewish advocacy organisations and survivors thanked police and prosecutors after the verdict was announced.

"I am grateful to God for getting us to this day," Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who survived the attack, said in a statement.

"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."

"Justice has been served," the American Jewish Committee said in a statement.

"We realise it does little to ease the pain for the families and friends of the 11 people murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh simply for being Jewish and practising their faith. However, we hope this verdict allows them to continue the slow process of healing if not closure."

This is only the second federal death penalty case under the Biden administration, which has placed a moratorium on federal executions.

Former President Donald Trump allowed 13 executions to take place in the last six months before he left office.

Source:
courtesy of BBC NEWS

by BBC NEWS

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