Loughner removed from courtroom after outburst

Source: AZCENTRAL.COM

The suspect in the Arizona shooting rampage that wounded U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has been removed from a court hearing after an outburst during the proceedings.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns had Jared Lee Loughner escorted from the courtroom after Loughner lowered his head and mumbled something loudly, his head inches from the table in front of him. Loughner's words were inaudible to many in the courtroom.

The outburst occurred at a competency hearing where Burns was expected to determine whether Loughner was mentally fit to stand trial.

Burns says he might allow Loughner back in "if he composes himself."





Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/05/25/20110525gabriel-giffords-shot-jared-loughner-competncy-hearing.html

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Going for the Old Charlie Manson Defense I see.

Update from azstarnet.com/

Jared Lee Loughner was removed from a court hearing this morning after an outburst.
"Thank you for the freak show. She died in front of me," he said to the judge. It was unclear who he was referring to.
After being asked by the judge if he wanted to remain in the courtroom or watch the proceedings on TV, Loughner said he wanted to watch on TV.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_1d5ce648-86f8-11e0-82ec-001cc4c03286.html

Let's not let facts stay in the way though. We have plenty of mentally ill people in our prisons, so what is one more?

Anyone who does not believe that Loughner was mentally ill, severely mentally ill, at the time he committed his crimes might well do with some checking up on themselves.

They are trying to determine if he can even be tried, is he "competent to stand trial" does he understand the nature of the crime and can he assist in his own defense.

Much lower bar.

If he is found "Guilty, but insane(different in AZ)" he'll be put into a mental hospital and if ever becomes sane, he'll be transfered to prison.

He is highly intelligent and is attempting to convince those in the judicial system that he is unable to reason his actions. That's not to say that he is not mentally ill (I am sure he is), but he is also aware of what he has done and is very sure he can get away with it.

highly disordered thinking makes them not responsible for what they do in any meaningful way.

The disease gives them irrational thoughts and delusions and sometimes even hallucinations, and to them their actions are perfectly logical, reasonable, and appropriate.

I know a lot about schizophrenia, having had a mom with it for decades.

They belong in a securely locked facility if they harm anyone, forcibly medicated if need be. NOT in prison.

has been found not competent to stand trial by the judge.

NBC's Pete Williams put the Loughner trial in the context of the 1981 and 1997 cases on Sunday's Nightly News.

Have come a long way since the scene in Amadeus in which Antonio Salieri is being interviewed near the end of his life in the insane asylum.

However, depending on where and what hospital Loughner will be committed, he will not have a good time spending most of the rest of his life.

As with most human experiences there exists a spectrum of diagnoses and conditions. Using the DSM IV, there are a hell of a lot of mentally ill people in the world. A case in point is the new catagory of Autism. It ranges from the nearly catatonic to Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form and one that was not diagnosable until very recently.

I guess the judge in Loughner's case felt Loughner was not capable of understanding the charges against him and being able to assist in his own defense. Maybe he is and maybe not.

I still feel Loughtner was a 'guided missile.' By that term I mean that someone used this man as a means to an end, assassination. Loughtner was probably incensed enough against what he deemed the 'war on liberals' or some sort of obsession but I doubt he had the mental awareness to commit the act by himself and was used like so many of the sheeple. Powers unsung pointed him in Gifford's direction, got him to the event, provided him with the means and...

Conjecture on my part and I doubt if I'll know if I'm correct but this is my take on the matter.