The suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre that killed 11 people has pleaded not guilty to federal murder and hate crimes charges.
Robert Bowers, 46, appeared in court dressed in a red jumpsuit and with a bandaged left arm.
He spoke little, other than to say he understood the charges against him, and that some of them could result in the death penalty, followed by entering a plea of “not guilty.”
The victims
David and Cecil Rosenthal, 54 and 59-year-old brothers;
Sylvan Simon, 86, and his wife Bernice Simon, 84;
Joyce Fienberg, 75;
Richard Gottfried, 65;
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Daniel Stein, 71;
Melvin Wax, 88;
Irving Younger, 69;
The oldest victim was Rose Mallinger, 97.
Bowers was injured during a shoot-out with police during the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, in what is believed to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in US history.
He had appeared in court on Monday shackled to a wheelchair.
Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty against Bowers.
He is accused of bursting into the synagogue and opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle and three pistols in the midst of the Sabbath prayer service as he shouted: “All Jews must die.”
Six people, including four police officers, were wounded before the suspect was shot by police and surrendered.