Breaking: Richard Rojas found not responsible for deadly Times Square crash due to mental illness.
The decision means Rojas qualifies for being committed instead of being sentenced to prison. Rojas' attorney Enrico DeMarco called the verdict"right and humane," adding that winning over the jury was an uphill battle"because it was such a horrible act."
On the defense side, family members testified how Rojas descended into paranoia after he was kicked out of the Navy in 2014. "We are grateful to the jury for its service. Our condolences continue to be with the family, friends and loved ones of Alyssa Elsman, who suffered a terrible and tragic loss, and all of the victims of this horrific incident. I thank the prosecutors, detectives, analysts and staff members for their hard work and dedication on this long case," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
One victim's pelvis was separated from her spine. Doctors were certain she would die, but she somehow survived. Elsman's younger sister Eva, then 13, testified during the trial about her own injuries: broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a compound leg fracture and other wounds that kept her in the hospital for weeks.
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FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation To VR Mental Illness TreatmentI joined Forbes as the Europe News Editor and will be working with the London newsroom to define our coverage of emerging businesses and leaders across the UK and Europe. Prior to joining Forbes, I worked for the news agency Storyful as its Asia Editor working from its Hong Kong bureau, and as a Senior Editor in London, where I reported on breaking news stories from around the world, with a special focus on how misinformation and disinformation spreads on social media platforms. I started my career in London as a financial journalist with Citywire and my work has appeared in the BBC, Sunday Times, and many more UK publications. Email me story ideas, or tips, to iain.martinforbes.com, or Twitter _iainmartin.
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