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They requested the death penalty for the jihadist who killed five Argentines in New York

Uzbek Sayfullo Saipov.

US prosecutors today called for the death penalty for the Uzbek Sayfullo Saipovwho in 2017 killed eight people in New York, including five Argentines, judicial sources reported.

The final phase of the trial against Saipov began today in a federal court in the Southern District of that city, after he was found guilty at the end of last January.

It is the first time under the government of President Joe Biden that the Department of Justice has requested the death penalty for a convicted person.

Despite the fact that the administration of the Democratic president declared a moratorium on all federal executions, if Saipov receives the sentence he could be executed during a new presidency or if the current one lifts that measure.

The same 12 jurors who on January 26 convicted Saipov of various murder and terrorism charges returned to court today in this second phase to hear arguments at the opening hearing to decide his sentence.

“We will ask to impose the death penalty, not because it is easy, but because it is (the) appropriate sentence in this case”said prosecutor Amanda Houle, according to the AFP news agency.

Saipov, 35, was driving a rented van in a Manhattan bike lane as New Yorkers prepared to celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31, 2017.

Among the dead were a group of five Argentine friends.

At least 12 other people were injured before police shot Saipov in the abdomen.

This was the deadliest attack in New York since September 11, 2001, when al Qaeda hijacked two planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center.

Saipov said that acted on behalf of the Islamic State jihadist group (EI).

The jury will have to reach a unanimous decision, which Saipov will be able to appeal.

The people of Rosario celebrated a new anniversary of finishing high school Archive photo
The people of Rosario celebrated a new anniversary of finishing high school. Photo: archive

“Due to the rescheduling that took place, we learned that it is very possible that this will take at least two weeks of scheduled activity; there was great difficulty in bringing all the witnesses, considering that they are going to bring Saipov’s family, who comes from Uzbekistan, as witnesses.”the lawyer explained to Télam Juan Felix Marteau.

The Argentine lawyer represents the widow and children of Hernán Mendoza, one of the victims of the attack perpetrated by Saipov, in the trial.

Mendoza had traveled to New York with several of his high school classmates, in Rosario, to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Together with him they died Diego Angelini, Alejandro Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernán Ferruchiwhile Martin Marro he was hurt.

Nicholas Cleves23, of New York, and Darren Drake, 32, of New Milford, New Jersey, were the two Americans killed. And the eighth victim was Ann-Laure Decalt, a 31-year-old Belgian citizen.

Saipov, who was detained by a police officer as he tried to flee the scene of the attack, is an immigrant from Uzbekistan who, according to his first statements, carried out the attack to join IS.

This element, according to the lawyer told Télam, is the one that left the doors open so that the sentence of the culprit is the death penalty, since EI is part of the list of terrorist organizations in the United States.

“It became clear in this process that Sayfullo Saipov provides material support to ISIS, this opens the door through which the death penalty should be accredited”Marteau had told Télam when the court sentenced the Uzbek for murder, with the clarification that it was a technical observation, that had nothing to do with the opinion of his clients in this trial.

In the United States, most executions are carried out by the states, not the federal government.

New York abolished the death penalty at the state level, and his last execution was in 1963.

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