Friday 8 July 2022 01:00 AM Judge refuses to give Buffalo gunman's defense team a year to prepare a ... trends now
A New York judge has refused a request from the accused Buffalo gunman's legal team for a year to prepare a psychiatric evaluation, after they asked for more time to analyze his diary and assess his mental state.
Payton Gendron, 19, is accused of murdering 10 black people in a supermarket on May 14, having driven three hours from his home in Conklin to a city with a large black community.
Conklin's African American population is only around 6.5 percent, while Buffalo's is 35 percent - almost three times the U.S. average.
Shortly before the attack he posted documents that outlined his white supremacist views and revealed he had been planning the attack for months.
On Thursday, Gendron appeared in Erie County Court in Buffalo, where his court-appointed lawyer Brian Parker requested more time.
Judge Susan Eagan declined the request, but did grant a 90-day extension for them to collect evidence.
Gendron will be back in court on October 6.
Payton Gendron, 19, appeared in court in Buffalo on Thursday. His lawyers requested an additional year to prepare, but were only granted 90 days
Pictured: Gendron in court on May 19 where he was indicted on 10 counts of first-degree murder and domestic terrorism
Buffalo police are seen outside Tops supermarket on May 14
Gendron said in his writings that he targeted the Tops supermarket because many black people shopped there
In his first appearance in a Buffalo federal court, on June 16, Gendron said he was unemployed, only had $16 in his bank account and asked for legal assistance.
The teenager, who is accused of live-streaming the massacre, pleaded not guilty to 25 charges.
He is the first person in the state to be charged with first-degree terrorism motivated by hate.
He is also charged by the state with 10 counts of murder in the first degree, 10 counts of murder as a hate crime in the second degree, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Gendron also faces 26 federal counts of hate crimes and a firearms offense.
Gendron could face the death penalty if convicted on the federal charges, even though New York state abolished the death penalty in 2004.
Judge Kenneth Schroeder in June urged prosecutors to make up their minds quickly about whether to pursue the death penalty for the suspect, saying such proceedings would cost additional taxpayer funds.
'The possibility of a death penalty obviously has a greater burden in the defense of the defendant,' Schroeder said.
Prosecutors said a decision on the sentence sought for Gendron will be made after a thorough evaluation of the
