| Saipov
Death Penalty
Phase Day 2
Has MCC Video
As Saipov Said
to Cut Off
Head of Guard
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon Song
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Feb 14 - Sayfullo Saipov after
being found guilty on 28
counts now faces a penalty
phase that may result in the
death penalty for killing
eight people with a van along
the West Side Highway.
On May 4,
2022 U.S. District Court for
the Southern District of New
York Judge Vernon S. Broderick
held a conference on the case.
On January
26, Saipov was
found guilty
on all counts,
after jury
questions
about whether
he did it to
join or
advance
himself in
ISIS or not.
That will be a major
issues, along
with any
mitigation, in
the penalty
phase to come.
The US
Attorney's
Office said Saipov
"was
found guilty
of eight
counts of
murder in aid
of
racketeering
activity,
which carry a
penalty of
death or life
in prison...
The penalty
phase is
scheduled to
begin on
February 6,
2023."
[That slipped
to February
13].
On
February 13,
the death
penalty phase
began. Inner
City Press was
there, live
tweeted
thread here.
On
February 14,
in Day 2 of
the death
penalty phase,
the government
showed video
from inside
the
Metropolitan
Correctional
Center (the
type of video
it did NOT
have for
Jeffrey
Epstein), on a
day the BOP
official said
Saipov spoke
of having a
guard
beheaded. Thread here:
OK -
Day 2 of
death penalty
phase in US v.
Saipov with
friend of 1 of
8 deceased
victims on the
witness stand.
Jury entering!
Judge
Broderick:
Good morning.
We will
continue with
Mr. Benvenuto
on the stand.
AUSA: What
impact has
Hernan's death
had on you?
Benvenuto: It
is hard to
express. It is
a pain that
will mark me
the rest of my
life.
Now the
prosecutors
put into
evidence a
photo of a
tattoo the
witness got,
about deceased
Hernan.
Saipov's
Federal
Defenders are
opposing
admission of
information
about the
victims,
saying it
enflames the
emotions of
the jurors "in
violation of
the 8th
Amendment."
AUSA: Mr.
Saipov drove
over her. We
are putting in
a photograph
of her in a
wheelchair
Next
witness is
Bureau of
Prisons' Rosa
Proto.
AUSA: What is
the purpose of
the BOP?
Proto: To
protect
inmates,
staff, and
society.
AUSA:
Where you in
charge of the
SAM Unit at
the MCC?
Proto: Yes.
AUSA: Where is
the MCC?
Proto:
150 Park Row.
AUSA: And what
are SAMs?
Proto:
Special
Administrative
Measures. They
are decided by
the Attorney
General. AUSA:
Did you deal
with Mr.
Saipov in the
MCC on Dec 18,
2019?
Proto:
Yes. He had a
social call.
AUSA: Did you
go to his
cell? Proto:
Yes, with an
officer,
because Mr.
Saipov had
covered the
security
camera in his
cell.
AUSA:
What did Mr.
Saipov say to
you? Proto:
That the
officer during
the night was
an animal, and
that he would
not uncover
the camera
until the
officer's head
was chopped
off. The
officer had
woken him up
in the night,
he said.
Now
prosecutors
are playing
for the jurors
a video from
inside the
Metropolitan
Correctional
Center,
outside
Saipov's cell
on Dec 18,
2019. [Hard
not to think,
they have
this, but no
video of
Jeffrey
Epstein's
fateful
night.]
Cross
examination.
Federal
Defender:
Visitors in
the SAMs unit
cannot touch
the prisoner,
even with
paper, right?
Proto:
No. FD: And --
Judge
Broderick: I
think she said
"no." FD:
Thank you. Let
me clean that
up. Is it
correct that
contact is
prohibited? A:
Yes.
Federal
Defender: In
the SAMs Unit,
the officers
checked on
inmates during
the night with
the
flashlight,
right? Proto:
Yes. Federal
Defender:
And to leave
the cell, the
escort was one
lieutenant and
2 officers,
correct?
Proto: Yes.
Next
witness is
Juan Pablo
Trevisan, from
Argentina. He
was biking
that day...
AUSA: What
were your
injuries?
Trevisan:
Fractured
wrist, nerve
in elbow.
AUSA: I'd like
to start with
your group of
friends...
Prosecutors
show jury
Trevisan's
video of the
group biking
through
Central Park
on Halloween
2017. AUSA:
Why did you
record these
videos?
Trevisan: We
watched them
later. We put
them on a
WhatsApp
group.
Just
before 5:30,
Judge
Broderick lets
the jurors go,
after asking
the parties to
at least list
exhibits they
may object to.
Inner
City Press
will stay on
the case.
The
case is US v.
Saipov,
17-cr-722
(Broderick)
Watch
this site
Saipov, courtesy to Inner City
Press by Elizabeth Williams
***
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