Mental illness defense raised in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial

Lawyers for Robert Bowers, the gunman convicted of killing 11 people in the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, argued in court that he is ineligible for the death penalty due to his psychotic, delusional, and paranoid symptoms that impaired his brain. The defense team said Bowers' brain impairments caused him to be delusional and the jury is unable to impose a death sentence on him because of his inability to form a requisite level of intent. Prosecutors countered that Bowers had a clear intent to kill everyone he encountered in the synagogue. The jury must decide whether Bowers is eligible for the death penalty before hearing further evidence and arguments on whether to impose it.