Lawyers for Pittsburgh synagogue shooter say he has schizophrenia, brain impairments

A former truck driver about to face trial for a shooting massacre at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania synagogue more than four years ago has schizophrenia and structural and functional brain impairments, his lawyers argue in a public court filing this week.

Lawyers for Robert Bowers tell a federal judge they are concerned that a prosecution proposal to have their own psychiatric experts examine or evaluate him would be a “broad-ranging, invasive, and constitutionally problematic investigation” into his “life, mind, and body.”

The defense says prosecutors should be limited to looking for evidence that would dispute defense assertions, and argued they should not be allowed to investigate every possible aspect of his mental health. A message seeking further comment was left with defense attorneys, and the US attorney’s office in Pittsburgh declines to comment.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin next month in Bowers’ trial for shooting to death 11 people and wounding seven others at the Tree of Life synagogue in the nation’s most deadly attack on Jewish people. Bowers has offered to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.