The defense for the accused shooter at Seattle’s Jewish federation wants some statements he made to police disqualified at trial.
At a pretrial hearing Monday, attorneys for Naveed Haq argued that prosecutors should not be allowed to use any statements Haq made after requesting a lawyer, which he did six times, the Seattle Times reported.
Haq, 32, shot up the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle offices in July 2006 after forcing his way in, killing Pamela Waechter and wounding five other women. He told police he committed the attack to make “a point” about Jews and the Iraq war.”
Haq, an American of Pakistani ancestry, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to one count of aggravated first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and malicious harassment, the state’s hate-crime law.
During his interview with police immediately following the shooting, Haq said, “I don’t have anything against America. I have against the Jewish people. Because they’re busy killing.”
Potential jurors will be questioned Wednesday.
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