Friday, June 01, 2007

Shooter Pleads Insanity: Jewish Center

You may remember Naveed Haq, 31. He was responsible for shooting 6 women at the Seattle Jewish Center, one of whom died. Well now he is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.

Haq was initially charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and one count each of burglary and malicious harassment, the state's hate-crime law. Prosecutors added a charge of unlawful imprisonment and five counts each of burglary and malicious harassment so there is now one count for each victim.The additional charges "more accurately reflect the extent of his conduct," said Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the King County prosecutor's office. Trial is scheduled for January. Haq would receive life in prison if convicted of aggravated murder. King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, who died last week, called the shooting one of the most serious crimes in the city's history, but declined to seek the death penalty because of Haq's history of mental illness.

I'm not sure I'd be happy seeing him escape to a psychiatric facility.

3 comments:

Batya said...

the insanity plea shouldn't be an escape hatch for murdering anti-semites

Baleboosteh said...

I agree with Batya, I hope he doesn't get off through the insanity plea.

Anonymous said...

Why will Haq's trial not start until January of 2008? His rampage at the Jewish Federation was in July,2006. He should have been tried, convicted, sentenced and executed by now.