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Pittsburgh synagogue shooter has personality disorder, expert testifies

The convicted mass murderer told a forensic psychiatrist that even if he is put to death, “the score is still 11 to one.”

A makeshift shrine to the victims of the mass shooting at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Credit: Brendt A. Petersen.
A makeshift shrine to the victims of the mass shooting at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Credit: Brendt A. Petersen.

The convicted killer of 11 Jews at Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 201 is proud of his carnage.

A forensic psychiatrist, who interviewed Robert Bowers for 15 hours, told jurors in the second week of testimony that the defendant revealed what he thought today of his crime. Bowers said “They can kill me if they want, but the score is still 11 to one,” Park Deitz testified.

Bowers suffers from a personality disorder, brought about by his social isolation, according to Deitz. “All that time he spent on the internet,” he said. “That allowed him to acquire so many extreme beliefs without interacting with people who would tell him, ‘That’s stupid. Why do believe all this stuff?’”

The defense questioned Deitz—an expert for the prosecution—about the hourly rate ($600 to $800) that the government was paying him and about his distinction between mental illness and personality disorder, CBS reported.

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