As reported here, Naveed Haq, the gunman in the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle shooting, has decided to plead not guilty after thinking over his earlier attempt to plead guilty, which was not allowed by the judge in any event.
"Naveed Haq stood silently as his lawyer, C. Wesley Richards, entered the pleas in King County Superior Court.
"Richards told Judge Paris Kallas that after spending some time with Haq at the King County Jail, he is satisfied that the man is able to understand the charges and help him with the case -- meaning he appears to be mentally competent.
""He is making a rational decision to enter pleas of not guilty," Richards said.
"King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng now has 30 days to decide whether he will seek a death sentence if Haq is convicted of the most serious charge, aggravated murder."
Two conclusions here regarding this. One is that, in entering not guilty pleas to the charges he faces, Haq probably escapes being scrutinized for mental stability; being mentally ill is something shameful to Muslims, and those found to be mentally ill are ostracized by the family and community.
The other is that, with the guilty pleas as he originally entered, there is no possibility for Haq to receive the death sentence, should Prosecutor Maleng want to pursue that, and it would also mean that Haq would have no public forum to dispense his opinions. By entering not guilty pleas, Haq now has that public forum opportunity, as well as the possibility of facing the death penalty, which could possibly satisfy any urges he may have to become a 'martyr for Islam'.
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