Accused killer: 'I got the Jews ... now I'm going to heaven'
SEATTLE - The man charged with shooting up the Jewish Federation in Seattle three years ago is awaiting the decision of a jury - again.
Naveed Haq's first trial last year ended with a mistrial - after jurors could not come to terms on all charges.
His second trial entered its final stage Thursday as attorneys made their closing arguments in the case.
Haq, 34, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the July 2006 shootings, in which Pam Waechter, the federation's 58-year-old campaign director, was killed. Five employees - Cheryl Stumbo, Carol Goldman, Dayna Klein, Christina Rexroad and Layla Bush - were wounded.
Now jurors must decide whether Haq should be convicted and go to prison - or found not guilty by reason of insanity and go to a mental hospital.
This second trial is very different from the first in many ways - but two differences really stand out.
First, the prosecutor reduced the number of charges from 15 to eight - one count of aggravated first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of malicious harassment.
And second, the judge allowed prosecutors to play recordings of Naveed Haq's phone conversations with his mother while he was in jail.
In one conversation, he is heard to say, "Whatever, mom - I did it purposefully." His mother says, "No, no, no, no." Haq says, "No, mom, I did it by purpose. You'd be proud of me. Now I'm going to heaven."
Haq's mother was in the courtroom as the recording was played, and she sobbed as she listened.
Hearing his voice was also difficult for the women who survived being shot that day.
"Just hearing his voice saying those things. ... It certainly had a big impact on me. You know I know what happened," says one of the shooting victims, Cheryl Stumbo.
In another recorded conversation with his mother, Haq said, "I did the right thing - no, no, no, I got the Jews. ... I don't feel bad about what I did."
Defense attorney Christopher Swabe tried to spin the evidence in support of Haq's claim of insanity.
"He thinks even then, that he did the right thing," Swabe told the jury. "That's the product of a mental illness."
But the prosecution says Haq's actions were premeditated, and that he planned the attack in advance.
Deputy prosecutor Erin Ehlert described how Haq started buying weapons almost two weeks before the shooting. Then he concealed them in his laptop bag as he entered the center.
The fact that Haq shot the six women is not in dispute - in fact, Haq has admitted that.
But the defense told the jury they have the power to find Haq not guilty by reason of insanity, putting him in a mental hospital - a place that's safe for all.
Cheryl Stumbo says, "I just hope they come to a decision quickly - that they come to a decision - we can't go through this again."
If Haq is convicted he faced life in prison without parole.
Naveed Haq's first trial last year ended with a mistrial - after jurors could not come to terms on all charges.
His second trial entered its final stage Thursday as attorneys made their closing arguments in the case.
Haq, 34, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the July 2006 shootings, in which Pam Waechter, the federation's 58-year-old campaign director, was killed. Five employees - Cheryl Stumbo, Carol Goldman, Dayna Klein, Christina Rexroad and Layla Bush - were wounded.
Now jurors must decide whether Haq should be convicted and go to prison - or found not guilty by reason of insanity and go to a mental hospital.
This second trial is very different from the first in many ways - but two differences really stand out.
First, the prosecutor reduced the number of charges from 15 to eight - one count of aggravated first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of malicious harassment.
And second, the judge allowed prosecutors to play recordings of Naveed Haq's phone conversations with his mother while he was in jail.
In one conversation, he is heard to say, "Whatever, mom - I did it purposefully." His mother says, "No, no, no, no." Haq says, "No, mom, I did it by purpose. You'd be proud of me. Now I'm going to heaven."
Haq's mother was in the courtroom as the recording was played, and she sobbed as she listened.
Hearing his voice was also difficult for the women who survived being shot that day.
"Just hearing his voice saying those things. ... It certainly had a big impact on me. You know I know what happened," says one of the shooting victims, Cheryl Stumbo.
In another recorded conversation with his mother, Haq said, "I did the right thing - no, no, no, I got the Jews. ... I don't feel bad about what I did."
Defense attorney Christopher Swabe tried to spin the evidence in support of Haq's claim of insanity.
"He thinks even then, that he did the right thing," Swabe told the jury. "That's the product of a mental illness."
But the prosecution says Haq's actions were premeditated, and that he planned the attack in advance.
Deputy prosecutor Erin Ehlert described how Haq started buying weapons almost two weeks before the shooting. Then he concealed them in his laptop bag as he entered the center.
The fact that Haq shot the six women is not in dispute - in fact, Haq has admitted that.
But the defense told the jury they have the power to find Haq not guilty by reason of insanity, putting him in a mental hospital - a place that's safe for all.
Cheryl Stumbo says, "I just hope they come to a decision quickly - that they come to a decision - we can't go through this again."
If Haq is convicted he faced life in prison without parole.