2nd day of suppression hearing in Tree of Life synagogue attack focuses on suspect’s medical treatment – TribLIVE
Posted By admin on October 18, 2021
As soon as the man accused of killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue building in Squirrel Hill was placed in an ambulance the morning of Oct. 27, 2018, a Pittsburgh homicide detective said he read the suspect his Miranda rights.
Immediately, the detective testified Wednesday, Robert Bowers invoked his right to remain silent and have an attorney present for questioning.
He stated to me he believed he should talk to a lawyer first before giving us any statement, Detective Robert Shaw said.
From that point forward, the detective said he did not ask the suspect any other questions relative to the attack.
Once he lawyered up, Im not going to ask him anything incriminating, Shaw said. Once he invoked his rights, it has to be respected and observed.
Defense attorneys have asked Senior U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose to suppress statements made by their client that day, including several he made as he was being taken into custody in which he said that all these Jews needed to die.
They argued in a motion filed on the matter that any statements made by Bowers were coerced by officers and not made voluntarily, and that anything said by him during the course of medical treatment should not be used against him.
In light of Mr. Bowers assertion of his rights to silence and counsel, all communications initiated by officers while Mr. Bowers was receiving medical treatment or that officers overheard from Mr. Bowers while he was receiving medical treatment should be suppressed, the defense wrote.
The prosecution argued that Bowers was not yet in custody when he made the statements to officers about his motivation for committing the crime, and that they were unsolicited and spontaneous.
(N)otwithstanding the fact that Bowers was shot and injured he remained conscious, oriented and responsive, the government wrote in a response. There is no evidence that his will was overborne by law enforcement.
A hearing on the suppression motion began Tuesday and concluded Wednesday. Bowers, 49, of Baldwin, did not attend after his attorneys waived his presence last week.
Ambrose is giving both sides time to review the transcript of the hearing and file additional briefs before she makes a decision.
Over the course of the two-day hearing, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorneys office and the defense called several law enforcement officers and paramedics to testify about the chaotic nature of the scene inside the synagogue that day, as well as the details of how Bowers was taken into custody. The synagogue at Shady and Wilkins avenues was home to Tree of Life-Or LSimcha, Dor Hadash and New Life congregations.
Throughout their questioning of witnesses, Bowers defense attorneys, including Assistant Public Defenders Elisa Long and Ashwin Cattamanchi, asked repeatedly whether their client was in pain while being questioned.
Several witnesses answered that question differently.
He wasnt in agony or screaming, Shaw said.
FBI Agent Matthew Patcher, who also was in the ambulance, previously said Bowers was groaning and appeared to be in pain but that he was trying to will the pain away.
He was in pain, obviously, from a few of the spots that I touched yelling and cursing, testified Gregory Tersine, a Pittsburgh paramedic attached to the SWAT team who examined Bowers at the synagogue and rode with him to the hospital.
Another paramedic, Rizieri Valles, said that he and another paramedic packed Bowers gunshot wounds with gauze, which can be painful.
He described the suspect as in a daze, with a blank stare while it was happening.
While Bowers was being taken to Allegheny General Hospital on the North Side, Pittsburgh paramedic Anthony DeSantis described the patient as being in stable condition.
He wasnt yelling or screaming, DeSantis said.
Bowers was conscious and able to talk and provide biographical information, he said.
During DeSantis testimony, the prosecution played video taken from a Pittsburgh police officers body camera during the ambulance ride. Shaw testified that body camera video did not capture him reading the suspect his Miranda rights.
It did capture DeSantis asking Bowers medical questions, as well as his name. Shaw also asked similar questions. In addition, officers could be heard asking the suspect whether there were any items at the synagogue or at Bowers residence that could harm investigators.
Bowers said there were not, but he told them the weapons he had that day, including a shotgun in his car, an assault-style AR-15 and three handguns.
Shaw said that those questions were asked out of a concern for public safety and not as part of any interrogation.
The detective also testified that he used his cellphone to take pictures of Bowers and his injuries both in the ambulance and at the hospital.
In the images displayed for the court, Bowers is lying on a gurney covered by a sheet or blanket and his hands were on his stomach, restrained by black flex-cuffs. His face had a small stream of blood running down it. His left arm had a tourniquet wrapped near the shoulder, and his elbow, which had been shot, was under a thick bandage.
An image from inside the hospital showed what appeared to be a bullet wound in his lower left hip.
On cross-examination by Long, Shaw admitted that he built a rapport with Bowers both in the ambulance and at the hospital, but he said his intentions werent to convince Bowers to waive his right to an attorney.
It doesnt have be adversarial. Im not judge and jury, Shaw said.
But Long continued, Once a rapport is established, you can get more information?
Well, not after theyve invoked their rights, Shaw replied.
He characterized Bowers as responsive and polite.
He just seemed like a cooperative, nice, normal guy, Shaw said.
The detective said he read the suspect his Miranda warnings again at the hospital, but again Bowers chose not to talk about the crime.
Paula Reed Ward is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or via Twitter .
See the original post here:
- Police Respond to Possible Bomb Threat at NYC Synagogue in Midst of Jewish New Year - The Messenger - September 18th, 2023
- May their memory never buffer: Synagogue yahrzeit memorials are ... - The Canadian Jewish News - September 18th, 2023
- A gun in every synagogue: Jerusalem cops gear up for holiday tensions - The Times of Israel - September 18th, 2023
- On Rosh Hashana, I skipped synagogue to find the holiday's ... - The Boston Globe - September 18th, 2023
- This Is Not the End of the Synagogue - Jewish Journal - September 18th, 2023
- I fast on Yom Kippur but dont go to synagogue. And there are plenty of Jews like me - Forward - September 18th, 2023
- Religions - Judaism: The Synagogue - BBC - September 7th, 2023
- Stained glass from Texas synagogue targeted by arson rebuilt into 3D eternal flame - The Times of Israel - September 7th, 2023
- Five Years of Reporting on the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting - The Times of Israel - September 7th, 2023
- Judge Rules to Evict CJI from Touro Synagogue - Newport This Week - September 7th, 2023
- Schwartzben aims for Green Road Synagogue to be center of community - Cleveland Jewish News - September 7th, 2023
- Letter to the editor: Center, synagogue contain so much of Sumter's ... - The Sumter Item - September 7th, 2023
- About Us - Congregation Beth Israel - September 3rd, 2023
- Touro Synagogue in Newport will have new leadership after eviction ruling - The Providence Journal - September 3rd, 2023
- Egyptian synagogue once home to famed Cairo Geniza completes extensive renovation - The Times of Israel - September 1st, 2023
- Man accused of threatening witnesses, jurors during Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial to remain in custody - TribLIVE - September 1st, 2023
- 20-year effort for synagogue on Ludlow Road hits another snag - Westport Journal - September 1st, 2023
- 'We are back as a family' | Austin synagogue hosts first service in new 'transitional worship space' years after arson attack - KVUE.com - September 1st, 2023
- The theater in Moldova that was once a synagogue - Ynetnews - September 1st, 2023
- Kyiv Celebrates 125th Anniversary Of The Brodsky Synagogue Amid ... - i24NEWS - September 1st, 2023
- The synagogue - Practices in Judaism - GCSE Religious Studies ... - BBC - August 26th, 2023
- Synagogue unearthed in Russia may be one of the oldest outside Israel. But not everyone is convinced. - Livescience.com - August 26th, 2023
- Judge rules in Touro Synagogue eviction. Here's what will happen to Newport congregation - The Providence Journal - August 26th, 2023
- On the Cover | Grand Re-Opening of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue - The Jewish News - August 26th, 2023
- The race to save Mosul's last synagogue - Jewish Insider - August 26th, 2023
- How this Romaniote synagogue keeps a Jewish minority within a minority alive - Forward - August 26th, 2023
- Second Temple era synagogue discovered in Russia - The Jerusalem Post - August 16th, 2023
- Vacant synagogue in West Hartford could become housing units - CT Insider - August 16th, 2023
- WV man accused of threatening jury and witnesses in trial of Pittsburgh synagogue gunman - Charleston Gazette-Mail - August 16th, 2023
- 76th reading of Washingtons letter at Touro Synagogue to honor ... - What'sUpNewp - August 16th, 2023
- Archaeologists discover ancient synagogue in the Black Sea region - HeritageDaily - August 14th, 2023
- Covering the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and its aftermath tested me as a Jewish journalist - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - August 14th, 2023
- In a Romanian synagogue, a play has ghosts eavesdrop on a towns Jewish past - The Times of Israel - August 14th, 2023
- A Jewish journalists experience covering the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - The Times of Israel - August 14th, 2023
- Synagogue evacuated due to bomb threat in Fullerton - NBC Southern California - August 14th, 2023
- Man Convicted for Threatening To Blow Up San Francisco Synagogue - The San Francisco Standard - August 14th, 2023
- Chabad of Maui in fire zone, second synagogue shelters evacuees - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 14th, 2023
- Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial - August 6th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter sentenced to death by judge ... - August 6th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue shooter is formally sentenced to death after victims families call him vile and worthless - CNN - August 6th, 2023
- 'Glad that there is vigilance': Local Jewish synagogue members react to anti-Semitic vandalism arrests - WEAR - August 6th, 2023
- After Pittsburgh synagogue shooting verdict, a congregation comes together for Shabbat - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - August 6th, 2023
- Former bookkeeper found guilty in synagogue theft case - KOAT New Mexico - August 6th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue gunman will be sentenced to death for the nations deadliest antisemitic attack - KOLD - August 6th, 2023
- A jury weighs the death penalty for the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter - NPR - August 1st, 2023
- Jury ends 1st day of deliberations on whether Pittsburgh synagogue shooter should be sentenced to death - CNN - August 1st, 2023
- Judge orders 3 of the 'Newburgh Four' freed in New York synagogue ... - Reuters - August 1st, 2023
- Temple Beth El - Danbury, CT - July 11th, 2023
- The Pittsburgh synagogue shooter had the capacity to plan his attack, an expert testifies - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - July 11th, 2023
- Expert witness testifies Bowers had capacity to form intent to kill in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - WTAE Pittsburgh - July 11th, 2023
- Key prosecution witness says synagogue shooter proud of his killing, not delusional - Cleveland Jewish News - July 11th, 2023
- Construction workers uncover remains of Munichs main synagogue, destroyed by Nazis - CNN - July 11th, 2023
- Munich synagogue rubble found in river 85 years after Hitler had it demolished - NPR - July 11th, 2023
- Park Synagogue project receives $10M in tax credits - Cleveland Jewish News - July 11th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue gunmans mental health is focus of punishment phase of death penalty trial - CNN - June 27th, 2023
- Reform synagogue in Jerusalem vandalized, Pride flag ripped down - The Times of Israel - June 27th, 2023
- Trying to save his life, Pittsburgh synagogue gunmans defense argues mental illness - The Times of Israel - June 27th, 2023
- Security increased at synagogue after weekend neo-Nazi demonstration - WSB Atlanta - June 27th, 2023
- Most families of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims call for ... - NPR - June 27th, 2023
- Jury in Pittsburgh to begin sentencing phase in the synagogue ... - NPR - June 27th, 2023
- Synagogue schools: creating a sense of belonging to the Jewish ... - eJewish Philanthropy - June 27th, 2023
- Most frightening thing Ive ever seen, GA synagogue congregant ... - JNS.org - June 27th, 2023
- 'Not going to let them win': Anti-Semitic protesters demonstrate at Macon synagogue, fliers appear in Warner Robins neighborhoods - 13WMAZ.com - June 27th, 2023
- Beth Judea - Conservative Synagogue in Long Grove, IL - June 23rd, 2023
- Jeopardy! features Michigan synagogue in clue - The Times of Israel - June 23rd, 2023
- 19-year-old accused of threatening East Lansing synagogue appears in court - WILX - June 23rd, 2023
- Taunton police ask for the public's help to identify suspected synagogue vandal - WJAR - June 23rd, 2023
- Israeli experts train Oakland Co. synagogue members on responding to mass casualty attacks - Detroit News - June 23rd, 2023
- UP man accused of targeting a synagogue in court - WLNS - June 23rd, 2023
- Taunton synagogue and private home targeted with antisemitic ... - The Boston Globe - June 23rd, 2023
- Organ music in the synagogue | 7 - Arutz Sheva - June 19th, 2023
- Synagogue massacre survivor cried 'Mommy' as her 97-year-old mother was shot and killed by her side - The Associated Press - June 19th, 2023
- Jury Convicts Man in Killings of 11 in Pittsburgh Synagogue - The New York Times - June 19th, 2023
- Truck driver guilty of killing 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue in deadliest ... - POLITICO - June 19th, 2023
- Forsyth County teen indicted in connection with synagogue threat - Forsyth County News Online - June 19th, 2023
- Synagogue massacre survivor cried Mommy as her 97-year-old mother was shot and killed by her side - WAFB - June 19th, 2023
- What Does Synagogue Mean? Bible Definition and References - June 12th, 2023
- Jared and Ivanka spotted heading to synagogue in wake of Trump indictment - New York Post - June 12th, 2023
- FBI examiner says dozens of AR-15 casings found at Pittsburgh synagogue came from gun carried by attacker - TribLIVE - June 12th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue trial is proving the obvious, but ultimately ... - Baptist News Global - June 12th, 2023
Comments