NYC terrorist’s trial screeches to halt after family outburst
NYC terrorist’s trial screeches to halt after family outburst
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February 23, 2023 4:08pm
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The death penalty trial of West Side Highway terrorist Sayfullo Saipov screeched to a halt Thursday afternoon when his father’s emotional testimony touched off an outburst from his uncle who screamed “dirty ISIS bastards” and slammed his fist on a door in the packed courtroom.
The dramatic blowup in Manhattan federal court prompted a relative of a Belgian tourist killed by Saipov during his 2017 truck-driving rampage to break down and caused US District Judge Vernon Broderick to clear the jury from the room.
The disturbance followed testimony from Saipov’s dad, Habibulloh Saipov, who sobbed uncontrollably on the witness stand as he responded to questions from defense attorney David Stern about if he still loves his son.
“Knowing all you do about your son and what he did, do you still love him?” Stern asked.
“With all my heart,” Habibulloh responded.
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The father, who is flying back to Uzbekistan on Friday, testified that while Thursday would likely be the last time he ever saw his son in person, knowing that he was alive would have meaning for him.
“It’s important for his kids to know their father is alive,” Habibulloh testified.
The elder Saipov was not cross-examined by federal prosecutors and was allowed to walk by the jury in tears — and past the defense table, where his son was seated with his lawyers.
That’s when Sayfullo Saipov’s uncle stood up from a seat on the right side of the courtroom gallery where relatives of the convicted terrorist have been viewing the trial this week.
“Dirty ISIS bastards!” the man screamed in Uzbek as he walked out of the room, according to a court interpreter.
The uncle, who was scheduled to testify later in the trial, slammed his closed fist on the courtroom door as he left.
A relative of victim Ann-Laure Decadt then began sobbing from the courtroom gallery and Broderick had jurors — who are weighing whether to sentence Saipov to death or life in prison — leave the room.
