Grieving families confront Pittsburgh synagogue shooter at death penalty sentencing

Grieving families confront the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter at his sentencing hearing, one day after a jury determined that capital punishment was appropriate for the perpetrator of the deadliest attack on Jews in US history.

The hearing at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh got underway, with some 22 witnesses — survivors of the 2018 massacre and relatives of the 11 people who were fatally shot — expected to deliver victim impact statements.

US District Judge Robert Colville was expected to formally sentence Robert Bowers to death later today.

“Mr. Bowers, you met my beloved husband in the kitchen. Your callous disregard for the person he was repulses me,” testifies Peg Durachko, wife of 65-year-old Dr. Richard Gottfried, a dentist who was shot and killed. “Your hateful act took my soulmate from me.”

Mark Simon, whose parents, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, were killed in the attack, testifies he still has their bloodied prayer shawl. He says he remains haunted by the 911 call placed by his mother, whom Bowers shot while she was on the line.

“My parents died alone, without any living soul to comfort them or to hold their hand in their last moments,” says Simon, condemning “that defendant” as evil and cowardly and urging the judge to show him no mercy.

“You will never be forgiven. Never,” Simon tells Bowers.