'My soul was destroyed': Judge adjourns NYC terrorist Sayfullo Saipov's trial as emotional father breaks down in court
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The fate of the West Side Highway terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people with a speeding truck in a 2017 rampage, was put to a halt after his heartbroken father gave an emotional testimony on Thursday, February 23. Followed by another outburst from the suspects' uncle who screamed, "dirty ISIS bastards” and a breakdown by a victim's family prompted Judge Vernon Broderick to adjourn the trial.
Saipov, 34, was found guilty on 28 counts of crimes, nine of the charges carry a maximum penalty of death. The New York City massacre was motivated by the defendant's admiration for the Islamic State militant organization, As per the prosecution. If sentenced to death, Saipov will be the first to be executed in New York in the past 60 years.
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What happened at Sayfullo Saipov's trial?
During the testimony, Saipov’s dad, Habibulloh Saipov, uncontrollably sobbed as defense attorney David Stern questioned him if he still loves his son. “Knowing all you do about your son and what he did, do you still love him?” Stern asked. “With all my heart,” Habibulloh responded, according to New York Post. His father who is flying to Uzbekistan on Friday noted this is the last time he will see his son.
“It’s important for his kids to know their father is alive,” Habibulloh testified. Moreover, after Saipov's fathers' testimony, his uncle swiftly stood up from his seat in the Manhattan courtroom gallery and scream, "Dirty ISIS bastards!" in Uzbek and slammed his closed fist on the courtroom door, and walked out, according to a court interpreter. The outburst led to a relative of victim Ann-Laure Decadt to begin sobbing.
'My soul was destroyed!'
After witnessing the breakdown, Judge Broderick ordered the jurors who will be deciding whether Saipov should be sentenced to death or life in prison to leave the room. Once the room resumed, Judge Broderick instructed the jury that the outburst was not directed at anyone in the courtroom or the criminal justice process, reported the source. He added, they should alter their opinion based on anything that happens in the gallery, during the trial. Likewise, the judge instructed anyone who cannot control their emotion to leave the courtroom, acknowledging the trial was likely, “one of the most emotional events in your lives.”
Earlier Thursday, when Habibulloh took the stand as the second witness in the penalty phase of the terrorism trial, he said, "My soul was destroyed" after hearing about the attack. “He committed a terrible tragedy. He caused the death for eight people and injuries for many more and he ruined their lives,” Habibulloh told jurors of his son’s attack. “I am feeling very bad about this. I would like to apologize in front of everyone, all victims,” he added before being ordered to stop by the judge.