Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the man charged with murdering eight people on a New York City bike path and injuring many more.
In documents filed Friday, the U.S. government says that "a sentence of death is justified" if Sayfullo Saipov is convicted in his trial, scheduled for October 2019.
Prosecutors say several factors justify a death sentence for the Uzbek immigrant who lived in Paterson, New Jersey, including intent to kill and injure numerous people; heinous, cruel and depraved manner of committing those killings and injuries; and substantial planning and premeditation.
Saipov, through his lawyer, has pleaded not guilty to the Oct. 31, 2017 truck attack near the World Trade Center."
Copyright AP - Associated Press
