Closing arguments start in Jewish Federation shooting case

The nearly six-week-long trial of accused Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle shooter Naveed Haq is coming to an end today as attorneys on both sides present closing arguments and a King County jury prepares to decide whether Haq is guilty or was insane at the time of the July 2006 shootings that left one woman dead and five injured.

Defense attorney C. Wesley Richards told jurors this afternoon that what happened on July 28, 2006, was a tragedy, but that Haq shouldn't be held responsible because he was insane when he shot six women, killing one. Richards told the jury to not let their personal emotions or post-Sept. 11 biases cloud their judgment of the case.

During the defense phase of Haq's trial, his attorneys attempted to prove that Haq — who has a long history of mental illness — was delusional and hearing the voice of God when he burst into the Belltown offices of the Jewish Federation and started shooting.

If the jury deems him insane, he will be committed to a state mental hospital indefinitely.

"Mr. Haq had a delusional belief that by coming to the federation and getting on CNN that he could change to course of two wars [in Iraq and Lebanon].

. "He thought what he was doing was right, that it was what God willed," Richards told the jury.

Richards took jurors back through Haq's troubled history — his years of paranoia, hearing voices, believing he saw people glowing, belief that others controlled his actions and laughed constantly at him behind his back. He argued that problems with the dosing and side effects of some of Haq's medications, including a thyroid medication and an anti-depressant, could have caused a manic state that led to the shooting.

And Richards disputed that Haq, of Pakistani background, selected the federation as a target because of employees' Jewish ties or religion. Closing arguments began this morning with Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Don Raz, who asked the jury to distinguish between Haq's social problems from a more serious state of psychosis that might excuse the shootings.

"He was frustrated. He was angry. He was suicidal. But he wasn't insane," Raz said.

"His mission was to end his life and to finally be something, and in his death to deliver a message about the plight of Muslims around the world."

Haq, 32, is charged with one count of aggravated first-degree murder for slaying Jewish Federation employee Pamela Waechter; five counts of attempted first-degree murder for the five other women he shot; one count of first-degree kidnapping; one count of unlawful imprisonment; one count of first-degree burglary; and six counts of violating the state's hate-crime law. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if found guilty of the murder charge.

Haq has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

During the trial prosecutors presented evidence that Haq, who bought guns and researched Jewish organizations before traveling from the Tri-Cities area to Seattle for the rampage, planned the attack and knew what he was doing. According to police and witnesses, Haq made anti-Semitic statements before and during the slayings.

This morning, Raz led jurors back through the events inside the federation offices to illustrate why he believes Haq knew what he was doing and had prepared ahead of time for his acts.

"He bought guns. He bought bullets. He Googled his destination. He had run a Mapquest. On the way, he stopped, took the guns out, test fired, and proceeded on After bursting in to the office and threatening the women, he became alarmed when victim Cheryl Stumbo shouted to victim Carol Goldman to call 911 — anticipating problems for himself if help was called," Raz said.

Taking a swipe at the defense's key assertion that Haq was driven by a voice he thought was God telling him to shoot the women, Raz continued:

"In a moment of the only divine intervention in this whole case [pregnant victim Dayna Klein] gets her hand up in time and [the bullet)] gets caught in her arm instead of killing her unborn child."

Haq moved through the building with his gun and encountered another potential problem as Pamela Waechter, whom he had already shot once, began running down the stairs to escape, Raz said.

"Haq sees something out of the corner of his eye — his perceptions are all working. [Waechter] ran out, Haq followed her You see it on the security video — Haq stepping out, he's up at the rail and puts his gun over the railing. We know what happens. He fires a bullet, she's likely dead before she gets to the landing."

Later, as Haq held Klein hostage, he spoke to a 911 operator about his motivations, Raz said. "He wants these Jews to get out, he's tired of being pushed around. He's mad that the U.S. sends bombs to Israel. He's tired that nobody listens to him."

Then, Raz says, Haq calculates again and makes another choice. "His self-preservation kicks in. Suicide stares him in the face. He decides, although he's killed others, he doesn't want to die himself." He calmly surrendered, Raz said.

The jury is scheduled to begin deliberating tomorrow.