Robert Bowers found guilty in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial

WTAE, ABC 4, Pittsburgh PA ^ | 06/16/2023 | WTAE Staff and Associated Press

[Olog-hai]

More than four years after 11 people were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue, a conviction has been delivered in the deadliest anti-semitic attack in U.S. history.

Robert Bowers, 50, of Baldwin, was found guilty of carrying out the Oct. 27, 2018 attack that killed 11 Jewish worshippers and injured others, including police, at the Tree of Life — Or L’Simcha Congregation — building in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Two other congregations, New Light Congregation and Congregation Dor Hadash, were also observing Shabbat services in the building during the attack.

Bowers was found guilty on all 63 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death and the obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. Counts 1-11 are capital offenses, meaning Bowers is now eligible for the death penalty. That sentencing phase is expected to begin on June 26. …

[lightman]

Pennsylvania Ping!

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Will Pennsylvania's third Jewish Governor make an exception to the capital punishment moratorium?

[Getready]

Ya think a news organization could stop advertising while it brings you the news.

I want to see all the anti death penalty morons start mouthing off now. Gavin, we are waiting for your opinion. Calling little Georgie Gascon....Alvin braggart...where art thou?

[Vigilanteman]

Hang 'em high!

Except our stupid governor won't enforce the death penalty.

[fella]

Another open and shut case that should have been over and done with in 2 weeks if we had swift justice. Instead the courthouse crowd has drug this out at the expense of the taxpayer.

[zeestephen]

Was this a federal hate crime trial?

The article mentions a U.S. Attorney, but does not specifically refer to a federal trial.

Strange - outside of Texas and Florida, Federal courts are almost the only place you can still get a death penalty that will eventually be enforced.

[Verginius Rufus]

If he does get the death penalty, he'll probably be 80 before it is inflicted. Since the governor of Pennsylvania is Jewish, he probably won't rush to commute a death sentence to life in prison.

Apparently the defense attorney tried to argue that the killings were because he was upset over a group's advocacy for immigration rather than because he is an anti-Semite--a feeble argument but hard to do better when the facts in the case were so obvious.