Opening statements begin in West Side Highway bike path terror attack trial
NEW YORK -- The trial of Sayfullo Saipov began Monday, more than five years after he killed eight people on a West Side Highway bike path on Halloween, he said in the name of ISIS.
The defense admits he did it, but disputes he had any connection to the terrorist organization.
Prosecutors say Saipov smiled while talking to investigators and even asked to fly an ISIS flag in his hospital room after using his truck as a weapon to mow down people on a bike path in 2017 in a "scene of destruction and horror" as "screams filled the air."
They say he chose New York City and Halloween because there would be a lot of people out, and allegedly told investigators his goal was to kill as many people as possible in order to become a member of ISIS.
Saipov, 34, has pleaded not guilty to a 28-count indictment charging him with murder and providing material support to the Islamic State.
Saipov, who is from Uzbekistan and was living in New Jersey, rented a truck from Home Depot and drove onto the bike path at Pier 40 along the West Side Highway. He struck two Belgian families, killing one person and severely injuring others, including a woman who lost both her legs.
He also mowed down 10 friends from Argentina on bikes in pairs, killing every rider on the left side, five in total.
Two other men from New Jersey and New York were also killed, and others were injured.
Prosecutors say he wanted to continue to the Brooklyn Bridge, but crashed into a school bus, injuring people on board, including an adult and a child, who suffered brain damage.
Saipov got out of the car and aimed fake guns at an NYPD officer. That officer testified he fired nine shots at Saipov, after first telling him to drop the weapons.
Another witness testified Saipov then dropped to the ground "like a sack of potatoes," but continued gripping what was later identified as a pellet and paint gun. That witness, a former Marine, kicked Saipov's guns out of his hands.
In its opening statement, the defense said he did murder eight people.
"There is no making sense of such a senseless act," his attorneys said.
They said Saipov thought he was "doing God's will" and continues to believe that. However, they argue he had no connection to ISIS other than being on the receiving end of messaging.
They said he has a large family back in Uzbekistan that does not support ISIS.
He's a married father of three who previously worked here in the U.S. as a long-haul truck driver and Uber driver, living in Ohio, Florida and Paterson, New Jersey.
They said he expected to die a martyr and instead has been in solitary confinement since his arrest.
The trial is expected to last three months.
