| In
Saipov Death
Penalty
Closing US
Says He
Remains a
Danger and
Deserves to
Die
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon Letter
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
March 7 - Sayfullo Saipov
after being found guilty on 28
counts now faces a penalty
phase 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
tweeted it
here.
On January
26, Saipov was
found guilty
on all counts,
after jury
questions
about whether
he did it to
join or
advance
himself in
ISIS or not.
That will be a major
issues, along
with any
mitigation, in
the penalty
phase.
But
in the penalty phase, on
February 21 members
of the
media were not
allowed into
the courtroom,
only to elsewhere in
the courtroom
where a feed
shows only
part of
the courtroom.
Inner City Press,
the first of many
media in
opposition,
wrote to Judge
Broderick,
here
Here's from
the day's
testimony,
after which
Judge
Broderick said
the press
can have a bench in the
back, thread here.
On February 22, there was a single witness, about
ADX Florence.
Thread here.
On February 28 as part of the defense
case, an expert on Central Asia testified.
Thread here.
On March 1, the defense rested its case,
sans Saipov. Inner City Press live tweeted
here
On March 3, the US Attorney's Office wrote
to Judge Broderick seeking to preclude the
defense from arguing in closing that the
jury should choose a "civilized sense of
justice" over "barbarism."
Federal Defenders also wrote it,
protesting the US' proposed verdict form
and proposed penalty-phase instructions,
and submitting its own in advance of the
charge conference set for March 6.
On March 6 at the charge conference, EDNY
cases and legislative history were argued,
thread here
On March 7, the US Attorney's Office
closing; Inner City Press was there,
thread here:
OK - Death Penalty closing arguments in US
v. Sayfullo Saipov for killing 8 on West
Side Highway bike path
Assistant US Attorney Houle: The defendant
murdered his victims while destroying a
motor vehicle. The defendant engaged in
substantial planning of this act of
terrorism...
AUSA Houle: On his phone is evidence of
his searches about Halloween in NYC. Here
is the video of him walking calmly out of
the Home Depot... With the clerk he walked
about the beaches in Tampa. He is callous.
AUSA: This defender deserve the
ultimate sentence, a sentence of death.
Murder is always terrible. But he chose to
murder multiple people. That is what this
factor is aimed at. He stole eight lives.
AUSA: His father could not bear to
look at the body of his son, Darren Drake.
Jimmy used to drive him to the PATH train.
Now he drives around twice a day, fleeing
his grief. Barbara said, We don't look
forward to anything anymore. The defendant
chose this...
AUSA: This is Nicholas Cleve at a
TED Talk, looking like he was at a rock
concern. He was so excited. He said he
would design a one dollar computer.
[Now AUSA shows video of school bus Saipov
hit with his Home Depot pickup truck]
AUSA: The Hudson River bike path is
a special place. People thought it was
secure. The defendant attacked that. For
all of these reasons, the most severe
punishment is warranted in this case. The
defendant is likely to commit future
violence in prison
AUSA: The defendant believes he is a
victorious soldier who will "return home a
winner." He believes there are big
things ahead for him, that it's why he
survived. He's screaming about killing
people. 3 BOP officers told you of threats
Defendant has covered up his camera. In
ADX, inmates have gotten razor blades in
the H Unit.... Now Judge Broderick calls
the (more than an hour) lunch break for
the jurors, telling them to report to him
if anyone approaches them.
With jury out of room, Federal Defender
objects to AUSA just now telling jurors
about 2 inmates with razors in ADX
Florence, as a reason to execute Saipov.
Judge overrules objection.
Inner City
Press will
stay on the case.
The
case is US v.
Saipov,
17-cr-722
(Broderick)
Watch
this site
Saipov, courtesy to Inner City
Press by Elizabeth Williams
***
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