By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Letter
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Feb 22 - 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.
OK- now Saipov death penalty phase with media semi-restored to courtroom, witness is about Special Administrative Procedures
Q: What is the ratio of inmates to staff?
A: In each unit, 25 inmates to 7 staff on the floor.
Q: How many hours a day in the cell?
A: 22 to 23 hours a day. Defense Exhibit 17 is shown: concrete bed and shelf, thin window.
The cell has a cigarette lighter; witness says "we no longer sell tobacco and that has been deactivated."
A: The window is 5 by 38 inches. They can use the toilet when they want but we limit the number of flushes. And not only to conserve water.
A: In H Unit, we apply hand restrainted. We ask the inmate to back up with their hands out -- Q: What's this?
A: Solid outer door looking into a cell... That's the TV, we give them one, we have 16 channel of content. If they break it, no new one unless they pay
A: We do not show local channels, since staff live locally and we do not want inmates learning about them. But they get ESPN, for example. A: In H unit, have you have inmates convicted of terrorism? A: Yes.
Q: In H Unit, have you found a cell phone? A: No. Q: Has there ever been a serious attack in H Unit? A: No. Q: An escape? A: No. Q: So is it safe to say that H Unit has successfully held people committed of terrorism? A: Yes. AUSA: Sidebar?
Now cross examination of ADX Florence BOP witness AUSA: How much inmates get released from H Unit? A: About three a year. AUSA: And they can earn their way out of ADX altogether, right? A: They can.
AUSA: And inmates can get their SAMs loosened through an administrative process, correct? A: Yes. They have had gotten access to more TV channels, communications with lawyer who do not yet represent them.
It's over for the day - a single witness, all about H Unit in ADX Florence, Colorado. Story soon. Inner City Press will cover the case to the end...
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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