No death penalty in Jewish center shooting

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Prosecutors said Wednesday they would not seek the death penalty against the man accused of shooting six people -- one fatally -- at a Jewish charity because of the suspect's long history of mental illness.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng said he based his decision on Naveed Haq's mental health records from the past decade, though he called the shooting "one of the most serious crimes that has ever occurred in this city."

Haq is charged with murder in the death of Pamela Waechter, 58, director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle's annual fundraising campaign, and with five counts of attempted murder in the attack at the federation's downtown offices on July 28.

If convicted, Haq would face life in prison without parole. He also faces charges of kidnapping and malicious harassment, the state's hate-crime law.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/20/jewish.center.ap/

You'd have to be to commit an act like this. However, even death penalty supporters may understand that the members of this charity would prefer a life sentence and/or psychiatric intervention - I know every few devout Jews who support the death penalty.

The prosecutors are to be commended. There are too few who deserve a death sentence who are not mentally ill.