Sayfullo Saipov: Islamic fanatic, 35, could be the first inmate to be executed in NY in last 60 years

In 2017, Sayfullo Saipov murdered eight people while riding a bike in New York City. A jury started hearing testimony to help them decide whether or not to execute him on Monday, February 13. In the state of New York, where there have been no executions in the last 60 years, the death penalty is an incredibly uncommon punishment. In January of this year, Saipov, 35, was convicted guilty of the assault. In 2017, only hours before the city's Halloween celebrations, he purposefully drove a vehicle at a high rate of speed down a walkway overlooking the Hudson River, running over bicycles on a lovely morning. The same jury that had earlier found Saipov guilty was reassembled after a two-week hiatus to hear from more witnesses during the sentencing phase of the trial. Saipov will live out the rest of his days in prison if the decision to have him executed is not made by a unanimous vote. Amanda Houle, an assistant US attorney, claimed that Saipov is still "proud, defiant, and unrepentant of the lives he destroyed" and that he is "still a danger even while imprisoned," according to the Associated Press. Houle informed the jury that Saipov smirked while explaining his attack to investigators hours after it occurred because his crime "made him happy." She said, "He had no remorse then. And the evidence will show he has continued to have no remorse." Read more: Where is Gary Glitter now? Pedo pop gets out of jail after serving half of 16-year sentence

Is Sayfullo Saipov going to be executed?

The legal team for Saipov contends that it is improper for the government to continue seeking Saipov's execution while not doing the same for a number of other defendants, some of whom have killed more people than Saipov has, in other instances. There is no rhyme, reason, or predictability as to why the government decides to pursue the death penalty in some murder cases but not in others, the defence team claimed in a recent court filing. On Monday, February 13, prior to the initiation of the punishment phase, Judge Vernon S. Broderick disagreed with the defense team's position. Despite the fact that New York has not carried out an execution since 1963, Saipov's trial is taking place in a federal court where the death sentence is still a possibility.