Jury Makes Pronouncement on Man Accused of Attempting to Assassinate Donald Trump
- A United States (US) man has been found guilty of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in 2024 near the American politician’s Florida golf course, multiple reports said
- A jury found that Ryan Routh, 59, intended to kill Trump, then a former president and Republican presidential candidate, when he pointed a rifle through a fence while Trump was golfing
- In 2024, Routh fled from the golf course without firing a shot after a US Secret Service agent patrolling the course ahead of Trump spotted him and the rifle and opened fire, according to witness testimony in the case
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering global affairs.
Washington, USA - Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate Donald Trump, president of the United States (US), on his West Palm Beach golf course in 2024, has been found guilty by a jury in Fort Pierce, Florida.
As reported by CNN, Routh was found guilty of all five charges, which included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
Source: Getty Images
According to the Guardian, Routh, 59, tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen shortly after being found guilty of all counts on Tuesday, September 23.
A sketch artist who was in the first row of the courtroom said Routh had “no emotion” during the verdict.
Lothar Speer started a drawing when he heard Routh’s daughter yell from behind: “Oh my god, he’s trying to kill himself, he’s trying to kill himself! Someone stop him, please!”
An information technology (IT) specialist who witnessed Routh try to stab himself said the defendant was tackled by marshals and dragged out of the courtroom’s side entrance. When he returned to court, he was shackled.
John Grouse told CNN:
“I didn’t see any blood, no one in there saw blood."
He was later brought back into court, wearing a white shirt and no tie.
The judge wanted to make sure Routh understood he was found guilty.
Ryan Routh's attack on Trump
A jury of five men and seven women decided Routh intended to kill Trump when he pointed a rifle through a fence as the then US presidential candidate was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.
Routh fled without firing a shot after a Secret Service agent patrolling the course ahead of Trump saw Routh and the rifle and opened fire, according to witness testimony in the case.
Source: Twitter
Prosecutors used the bulk of their closing arguments on Tuesday, September 23, to emphasise both the digital and forensic evidence presented at trial and what they described as Routh’s clear intent: to kill Trump.
Expert witnesses for the prosecution testified that the weapon was in working condition. Forensic experts said the fingerprint on the scope matched Routh. They also linked Routh's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to matches on the rifle itself, as well as gloves, a bag, and other items.
They noted the 17 "reconnaissance" trips he allegedly made to Trump's golf course, and what they described as his excessive stalking of Trump, before the September 15, 2024, incident in question.
Legit.ng gathered that Routh will be sentenced on Thursday, December 18.
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Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
