In the second day of the penalty phase of the Tree of Life shooting trial, the defense called its first witnesses Tuesday of the entire trial as they attempt to prevent Robert Bowers from facing the death penalty.
They're trying to convince the jury that the shooting did not come from a place of hate but mental issues from brain abnormalities and mental health issues like schizophrenia.
Multiple expert witnesses talked about abnormal brain activities and chemical imbalances in his brain.
One witness said a scan showed consistencies with schizophrenia, but he could not say for certain if Bowers had the mental condition.
Prosecutors cross-examined the experts with one saying that a chemical imbalance doesn't guarantee certain behaviors.
The experts only looked at PET and MRI scans and did not see Bowers personally.
The Prosecution is trying to persuade the jury that Bowers was fully aware of what he was doing that morning, pushing for the death penalty.
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During their opening statements on Monday, U.S. Attorney for the Western District, Troy Rivetti told the jury that Bowers knew what he was doing the day of the shooting, October 27, 2018.
He said Bowers drover a half hour to the Tree of Life synagogue and when asked by police why he enacted the attack he said, “All Jews need to die.”