Mental Health History of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Presented in Court
Aug. 2, 2023, 11:37 am ET
Defense lawyers for the gunman who killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue in October 2018 argued that his troubled past and psychiatric history should convince jurors to spare his life.
During the trial, which has extended over several weeks, the jury heard testimony about the mental health of the shooter. They learned that he had been involuntarily committed to psychiatric facilities three times, had attempted suicide multiple times, and as a child, tried to set his mother on fire. Despite this evidence, the jury determined in early July that he was eligible for a death sentence.
Now, the jury faces the decision of whether to impose the death penalty. Defense experts asserted that the gunman, Robert Bowers, 50, suffers from schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders. They claimed he showed signs of “permanent brain damage” and experienced paranoia and delusions. Prosecution experts, on the other hand, disputed these findings and argued that Bowers was driven by racist beliefs that are not indicative of mental illness.
Judy Clarke, a prominent defense attorney known for defending individuals accused of capital crimes such as the Unabomber and the Boston Marathon bombers, leads Bowers’ defense team. They have consistently challenged the government’s intent to seek the death penalty. In a recent filing, the defense cited Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s alleged arbitrariness in deciding to pursue capital punishment, pointing out other murder cases in which Garland opted not to seek the death penalty, including the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso.
In response, the government emphasized the factors unique to Bowers’ case, such as his open antisemitism and the deliberate targeting of worshippers during a service, which they argued warranted the death penalty.
Throughout the penalty phase, witnesses testified about the shooter’s deteriorating mental state, which worsened significantly following a series of personal losses in 2014. The witnesses described how he became fixated on notions of Satan and an apocalyptic race war, leading to his decision to attack the Pittsburgh synagogue.
The trial continues as the jury weighs the defense arguments about the gunman’s mental health against the severity of the crime committed. The outcome will determine whether Robert Bowers will face life imprisonment or the death penalty.