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 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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