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By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 18 - Sayfullo Saipov is now in a trial that may result in the death penalty for killing eight people with a van along the West Side Highway.

  On May 4, 2022 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Vernon S. Broderick held a conference on the case and Inner City Press live tweet it here and below.

On January 6, 2023 after a long jury selection that Inner City Press covered, some below, Judge Broderick confirmed that the trial would start January 9. And it did.

On January 17 the trial re-started... sort of. A juror had emailed Judge Broderick's chamber and there ensured five hours of entirely sealed questioning of jurors (we'll have more on this). Inner City Press' live tweeted thread here.

On January 18, the US put on experts including from the Washington Institute for Near East Affairs, on the differences - or not - between Saipov and Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock. Was Saipov really trying to join ISIS? Jan 18 thread here

Judge Broderick: I'm prepared to hear from the parties about the accident reconstruction expert. But let's get the jury.

 Jury entering!

Judge: You may inquire. AUSA: Ms. Adams, was Darren Drake included as a potential contributor?

Adams: Yes. Swab 93 was a mixture

 No cross examination, now next expert witness is from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The government / tax payers are paying him $400 a hour.

Now Judge Broderick says Juror 37 told deputy clerk that he is the best man in a wedding on March 16, and has a surgery on March 22 then he's "done."

Federal Defender is cross examining US Attorney's Office's ISIS expert. FD Patton: You're aware Mr. Saipov committed this attack on October 31, 2017, correct?

Expert: Yes.  Patton: But you're aware that ISIS' publication about it was based on media only? A: Yes.

 FD Patton: And when ISIS claimed credit for the Las Vegas shooting, they just made up a name, right? US Expert: I'm not ISIS, I don't know. ISIS says he converted to Islam six months before the attack. FD Patton: You testified in Chicago in 2021? A: Yes.

 FD Patton: And you'll admit that ISIS has never said, commit a martyrdom attack to become a member of ISIS, right? Expert: It's implicit. FD Patton: They say the motive much be purely to please Allah, correct? [This is their defense against death penalty]

 Re-direct. AUSA: Is it right that ISIS releases content in other languages, like Uzbek? Expert: Yes.  AUSA: How many ISIS claims of responsibility have you reviewed, and how many have you questioned?

Expert: Thousands. And no questions except Las Vegas shooting Jury leaves at 5:28 pm Judge: US, how many witnesses tomorrow, with its inclement weather? AUSA: 6, some quite short. Judge: Will there be a defense case?

Federal Defender Patton: If there is, it will be short. Judge: I have a VOSR at 9 tomorrow. So, 10 am.

Judge Broderick: I'll be asking, can the pick-up truck be the weapon, if its maximum speed is limited? I don't want answers now. We'll get together at 10. And I'll allocute Mr. Saipov. And I'll try to get my act together and get you the charge tomorrow. We'll see

Watch this site

Martin Marro shows wounds, courtesy of Elizabeth Williams

On October 13, 2022 Saipov's Federal Defenders wrote to object to any disqualification of anti death penalty jurors, focusing on Juror 17 who cited his religious opposition to the death penalty. They argue that exclusion would violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Inclusion would guarantee no death penalty imposed.

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