Robert Bowers

The United States District Court has requested that the alleged Tree of Life Synagogue shooter receive a mental health evaluation.

Robert Bowers, 50, is facing more than 60 federal charges from the attack, which killed 11 worshippers and injured 27, including 12 law enforcement officers on Oct. 27, 2018, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Bowers is being held without bond in Butler County Prison.

Bowers filed notice Feb. 23 of his intent to give testimony regarding his mental health during trial, to which U.S. attorneys responded with their request for an evaluation.

The proposal asks the defense to provide an expert testimony to Bowers’ mental state during the penalty phase of the trial. This would include evaluation from a psychiatrist, neuropsychologist and neurologist. The evaluation process includes interviews and psychological tests, documents said.

The experts are permitted to question Bowers about the alleged incident and his state of mind before and after the incident.

Attorneys further stated in the proposal that Bowers is permitted to withdraw his intent to raise mental health evidence before presenting any evidence.

Jury selection for Bowers’ case is expected to begin April 24. The trial will be divided into three parts. The “guilt phase” is expected to last several weeks.

The two-part penalty phase would begin one week later, should Bowers be found guilty. The first part of the penalty phase, the eligibility phase, would involve consideration of what is required for the death penalty to be applied and whether the government has met its burden in that respect.

The second phase, the sentence selection phase, “will involve the determination of and weighing of all established aggravating and mitigating factors,” according to documents.