Accused NY attacker's lawyers propose deal to avoid death penalty

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#U.S. JANUARY 17, 2018 / 5:17 PM / UPDATED A DAY AGO

Accused NY attacker's lawyers propose deal to avoid death penalty

Brendan Pierson
3 MIN READ

(Reuters) - Lawyers for the Uzbek man accused of killing eight people by speeding a truck down a New York City bike path in October proposed a plea deal on Wednesday in which their client would accept life in prison without parole if prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

The lawyers for Sayfullo Saipov, 29, made their proposal in a court filing opposing prosecutors’ request on Tuesday that U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick set an April 2019 trial date. The prosecutors had cited victims’ “strong desire for closure.”

Saipov’s lawyers said the requested date would not leave enough time to prepare for trial in a possible death penalty case, and said the fastest way to resolve the case would be for prosecutors to accept their proposed deal.

“In short, a decision by the Government not to seek the death penalty would bring immediate closure to the case without the need for the public and victims to repeatedly relive the terrible events of October 31, 2017,” the lawyers wrote.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-attack/accused-ny-attackers-lawyers-propose-deal-to-avoid-death-penalty-idUSKBN1F6308