"In an unusual and awkward start to the trial, Routh spoke for less than five minutes before Aileen Cannon, the US district judge, ended his opening statement. She interrupted him three times to remind him of proper procedure and reprimand him to not make a mockery of the court as he mused about unexpected topics including human evolution, global conflicts and Adolf Hitler, rather than mount a meaningful defense."
"Prosecutors told jurors that Routh, a building contractor from North Carolina, carefully crafted his attack for weeks before aiming a rifle from just outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on 15 September 2024. They allege that Routh put together a methodical plan which included purchasing a military-grade weapon, obsessively researching Trump's movements, and utilizing a dozen burner phones, to kill Trump based on political grievances."
Ryan Routh, 59, is representing himself while facing five charges including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate. He pleaded not guilty. Aileen Cannon, the US district judge, cut off Routh less than five minutes into his opening remarks after repeated interruptions about courtroom procedure and admonitions not to make a mockery of the court. Routh veered into topics including human evolution, global conflicts and Adolf Hitler before the judge excused the jury and suspended his remarks. Prosecutors said the case centers on whether Routh plotted to kill Donald Trump and presented alleged evidence of a methodical plan, including purchase of a military-grade rifle, obsessive tracking of movements, use of multiple burner phones, cellphone data, security footage, a handwritten note expressing intent, and eyewitness testimony.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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