Death penalty phase begins in trial of NYC bike path killer

NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have begun hearing testimony on whether to give a death sentence to an Islamic extremist who killed eight people by driving down a New York City bike path. It’s a very rare penalty in a state that hasn’t executed anyone in 60 years. A prosecutor said Monday (Feb. 13, 2023) that 35-year-old Sayfullo Saipov is unrepentant. Prosecutors say they’ll aim to make jurors understand the emotional ramifications of his vow to kill as many people as possible. The defense urged letting him spend life in prison. His lawyers said that unlike Saipov, the jurors should not seek death as a solution. The attack took place in 2017 on Halloween.