Jewish center shooting trial begins

SEATTLE, April 14 (UPI) -- A trial began Monday for a man accused of killing a woman and wounding five others in a 2006 rampage at the Seattle Jewish Federation, officials said.

The prosecution and defense agree that the defendant, Naveed Haq, 32, is mentally ill, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported. Jurors will decide if the illness was so severe that Haq should be found not guilty.

Prosecutors contend that Haq, of Tri-Cities, Wash., planned the shooting to make a political statement. They say he bought guns more than a week before the shootings and spent time searching the Internet for Jewish organizations.

Haq faces 15 criminal charges, including aggravated murder, five counts of attempted murder and malicious harassment, the newspaper reported.

If convicted of all charges, Haq would face life in prison with no possibility of parole.