Defense Presses Case That Mental Illness Spurred Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre

PITTSBURGH (AP) – A federal trial for a man who fatally shot 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue is approaching its conclusion as the defense makes its case that mental illness spurred the United States’ deadliest antisemitic attack. Lawyers for Robert Bowers are trying to persuade a federal jury to spare his life. A defense psychiatrist who met with Bowers testified Friday that Bowers has schizophrenia and acted out of a delusion that Jews were trying to cause a genocide of white people. Bowers’ relatives also testified, with his aunt saying he had a difficult childhood.