The man accused of mowing down eight people on a bike path in New York City in an ISIS-inspired truck attack in October refused to stand for a federal judge in a Manhattan courtroom, it was reported on Tuesday.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Paterson, New Jersey, was indicted in Manhattan federal court this past November on 22 counts, including providing material support to ISIS, eight counts of murder, and 12 counts of attempted murder.
At a hearing on Tuesday, Saipov remained seated and stone-faced as the judge entered the courtroom, according to the New York Post.
In the American legal system, it is customary to stand whenever a judge enters a courtroom as a sign of respect.
Despite Saipov’s lawyer motioning for his client to stand, the Uzbek immigrant decided to remain seated.
Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Paterson, New Jersey, is accused of mowing down eight people on a bike path in New York City in an ISIS-inspired truck attack in October
US attorneys want Saipov’s trial to begin in April 2019, but the terror suspect’s lawyers want the trial to start at a later date.
The judge said both sides are to submit briefs on March 30 before a final determination is made.
The federal government also has until September 1 to decide if it will seek the death penalty in Saipov’s case.
Last week, his lawyers indicated that they would accept a plea deal in which Saipov pleads guilty in exchange for life in prison without parole.
Law enforcement officials investigate a pickup truck used in an attack on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan on November 1, 2017
Passersby observe the eight crosses that mark the location where Saipov allegedly entered a bike path and mowed down 20 people, killing eight
Saipov was arrested after people were run over by a vehicle October 31 in a midday attack that authorities immediately labeled terrorism.
Of the eight people killed, five were friends from Argentina celebrating 30 years since their high school graduation.
A Belgian woman, a New Yorker and a New Jersey man also lost their lives, and 12 others were injured.
Authorities said he made statements after his arrest about his allegiance to ISIS, which later took credit for the deadly attack, and told investigators he ‘felt good’ about the killings.
Saipov was shot in the abdomen by a police officer after crashing the truck into a school bus.
Victims: Five members of this group of Argentinian friends were also killed. They are Hernán Diego Mendoza (far left), Alejandro Damián Pagnucco (second from left), Ariel Erlij (third from left), Diego Enrique Angelini (second from right) and Hernán Ferruchi (third from right)
His injury was minor enough that he was transferred to a prison facility in Manhattan two days later.
The terror suspect came to the US legally in 2010 from Uzbekistan, where officials say he had no history of trouble with the law.
He first lived in Ohio, where he was a commercial truck driver, then in Florida.
He most recently lived in New Jersey with his wife and children, and worked as an Uber driver.
Authorities said in court papers that Saipov told investigators he was inspired to carry out the attack after watching a video of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi questioning ‘what Muslims in the United States and elsewhere were doing to respond to the killing of Muslims in Iraq.’
Evidence against him includes what was found on two of his cell phones, according to court documents.
Investigators said one phone contained 90 videos and other Islamic State propaganda, including one of a beheading and another of a tank running over a prisoner.
The other phone showed a search for truck rental outlets.