An extremist who killed eight people by driving a truck along a bike path in Manhattan, NY, has been given 10 life sentences.
Sayfullo Saipov, who also injured 18 other people, was told he will also be sentenced to another 260 years behind bars.
Addressing the court on Wednesday, May 17, Saipov said the tears of victims and their families were “small” compared with those in the Islamic faith who had suffered.
Speaking through an intepreter before receiving his sentence, he said: “I was here in the court during the three-month trial, and I saw and I heard the victims, families and friends. The court would be filled up with the tears and blood of the Muslim population.”
District Judge Vernon S Broderick cited Saipov’s lack of remorse as he handed down the sentence. In the attack, on October 31, 2017, Saipov used a Home Depot truck to mow down victims on Manhattan’s West Side.
Read more: OnlyFans model acted in self-defence in boyfriend’s brutal death, evidence shows
The judge said: “The conduct in this case is among the worst, if not the worst, I’ve ever seen.”
In March, a jury rejected the option of a death sentence for the one-time New Jersey resident and Uzbekistan national.
The relatives of eight people killed in the attack appeared in court to watch Saipov receive his sentence. They described the pain of losing a loved one and occasionally addressed the defendant himself.
Saipov, 35, kept his head lowered and listened to the proceedings through earphones.
Frank Decadt, father of victim Ann-Laure Decadt, told Saipov that he hoped that “one day you will understand the extent of horror you have inflicted on so many people.”
Marion Van Reeth was one who addressed Saipov in court. She lost her leg during the attack and addressed the defendant from a wheelchair.
She said: “I will never be able to walk like you can. I have a question for you. After all this time in prison, are you still convinced that your criminal acts against innocent people was the right thing?”
Prosecutors urged Broderick to impose a sentence of eight consecutive life sentences – one for each death – and an additional 260 years in prison, according to a pre-sentence submission.
The prosecutor wrote: “Saipov is an unabashed terrorist – a proud murderer who deserves no leniency and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
The judge opted to follow the prosecutor’s recommendation, handing Saipov eight consecutive life sentences and two to be served concurrently. It means he has no chance of parole.
Prosecutors earlier told the court Saipov had left a path of destruction behind him following the attack. He reportedly carried out the attrocity in a bid to gain membership into the Islamic State or ISIS, they said.
Five toursits from Argentina, two US citizens and a Belgian woman were killed, while 18 others suffered serious injuries.
Saipov was shot by a police officer and taken into custody. He emerged from his truck yelling “God is great” in Arabic and waving paintball and pellet guns around.
The prosecution said he smiled as he asked FBI agents if they could hang an Islamic State group flag on the wall as they questioned him in his hospital bed.
The defendant is expected to be housed at Colorado’s Supermax facility – the most secure type of federal prison. He will spend 22 or 23 hours a day alone in a cell with a concrete bed.
His case was the first federal death penalty trial to take place under the Joe Biden administration. The Democratic President pledged to abolish capital punishment during his campaign.
Saipov’s family had campaigned for a life sentence hoping he would instead show remorse for his actions.
The former truck driver moved to the US from Uzbekistan legally in 2010. His lawyer David Patton described hias actions as “horrific” and “senseless”.
