US: 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooter gets death sentence for killing 11 worshippers

The gunman who stormed a synagogue in Pittsburgh's Jewish community and killed 11 worshippers has been sentenced to death on Wednesday (August 2).The gunman, identified as Robert Bowers, was accused of perpetrating the deadliest anti-semitic attack in US history and was convicted of 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death.Several were injured.

The jury found him guilty of dozens of federal hate crimes in the trial held at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania in June. During the first phase of the sentencing portion of the trial which was around two weeks ago, the jury found Bowers to be eligible for the death penalty. He was found guilty on all counts on June 16.

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His defence lawyers argued that he suffered from life-long mental illness and was delusional. However, they did not dispute that he planned and carried out the attack.

The 12-member federal jury unanimously ruled that the 50-year-old Bowers should be executed for the October 27 mass shooting, US-based media reports published the details of the ruling.

According to media outlets, a defence attorney for the shooter said there is no justification for the attack. The attorney, however, urged the jury to "consider mercy" and give him jail time for life.

Defence attorney Judy Clarke, quoted by reports, said on Monday: "We can't rewind the clock and make it such that this senseless crime never happened. All we can really do is make the right decision going forward. And we are asking you to make the right decision, and that is life."

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Heartbreakingtestimonies

As quoted by CNN, survivor Andrea Wedner, who suffered a major injury in her arm from the gunfire, said that her life will never be the same again.

A dental hygienist by profession, Wedner said she has shrapnel throughout her body, in her face, chest and hand, besides the damage to her arm. In her testimony, she said she experiences numbness, weakness, and tingling in her hands.

Another survivor Dan Leger also testified about his excruciating pain during the recovery, which according to him was "awful". The CNN report mentioned that he said that his bladder was "blown out" and he needed a colostomy bag to survive. It was nearly impossible to eat as there was massive swelling all over the body.

(With inputs from agencies)

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