A man in the city of Pittsburgh is reportedly on trial after a deadly attack on a synagogue.
His name has not been mentioned in the trial and yet is facing charges for the shooting that took place at the Tree of Life synagogue in October of 2018. The attack left 11 people dead and several others injured.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. The accused is being charged with 63 counts, including hate crimes and firearms offenses.
The prosecution’s case is based on evidence that suggests the accused had a history of anti-Semitic beliefs and had made threats against the Jewish community prior to the attack. The defense, however, argues that their client suffers from mental illness and was not in his right mind when the attack took place.
The trial is being closely watched by members of the Jewish community, as well as advocates for gun control and hate crime legislation. The outcome of the trial could set an important precedent for future cases involving hate crimes and mass shootings.