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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/us/26loughner.html Suspect in Shooting of Giffords Ruled Unfit for Trial TUCSON, Ariz. — A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that Jared L. Loughner was not mentally competent to stand trial on charges of opening fire at a constituent event for an Arizona congresswoman in January, killing 6 and injuring 13. The ruling by Judge Larry A. Burns of Federal District Court means Mr. Loughner will be sent to a federal psychiatric facility until Sept. 21, when a hearing will be held to determine whether he understands the 49 federal charges against him and can help in his defense. If so, the legal proceedings will resume. If not, Mr. Loughner will be sent back for more treatment and more periodic evaluations to determine if he has become competent. Potentially, he could remain under doctors’ care indefinitely. “At the present time, Mr. Loughner does not have a rational understanding of these proceedings,” Judge Burns said. The ruling came just minutes after Mr. Loughner was dragged from the courtroom screaming. “Thank you for the freak show,” he shouted. “She died in front of me. You’re treasonous.” At his first courtroom appearance shortly after the shootings, Mr. Loughner had his head shaved clean and stood absolutely erect. On Wednesday, his hair was long and sticking out in all directions, he had a scraggly beard and he slumped during the proceedings like an old man. He put his head in his hands for some time just before his outburst, which he shouted at full throttle as the judge was talking. Court officers led him from the room. A short while later, when court officers said Mr. Loughner had calmed down, he was led back into the courtroom and Judge Burns asked him if he wished to stay and watch the proceedings. Instead, Mr. Loughner chose to watch on a monitor from a nearby room. The ruling came after two experts who examined Mr. Loughner at a federal psychiatric facility in Missouri determined that he was mentally incompetent and that he appeared to suffer from schizophrenia and experienced delusions and irrational thoughts. Judge Burns said during the hearing that he had received two letters from Mr. Loughner since his arrest, both complaining about his legal representation. The judge told Mr. Loughner’s court-appointed lawyer, Judy Clarke, that he did not intend to take up the issues in the letters because he considered them a consequence of Mr. Loughner’s mental illness. ................ ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu Set your options at: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
