Medicated Jared Loughner set to plead guilty

[maddezmom]

Source: CBS

CBS News) TUCSON - Jared Lee Loughner is headed to court in Tucson this morning, where he is ready to admit shooting six people to death last year and wounding 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The question is, will the judge agree that Loughner is mentally competent to plead guilty?

Loughner arrived in Tucson on Monday, escorted by federal marshals. For the past year, he's been treated for mental illness at a federal facility in Missouri. Now the success of that treatment will be the focus of Tuesday's hearing.



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57487970/medicated-jared-loughner-set-to-plead-guilty/

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Plea deal in Tucson shooting depends on suspect

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A court-appointed psychiatrist is expected to testify Tuesday that he is competent to enter a plea.

If Burns agrees, as legal experts expect, a formal change-of-plea hearing will follow. That's when those in the court will hear from Loughner at length for the first time, as the judge questions him about the agreement and changing his plea to guilty.

Burns may ask Loughner to recite his actions in his own words, but either his lawyer or the federal prosecutor could just read the facts of the January 2011 shooting spree at a Tucson supermarket, where then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was holding a meet-and-greet with constituents.

Either way, Loughner will be asked to admit that he shot and killed six people, including the top federal judge in Arizona, and wounded 13 others, including Giffords. He'll need to convince Burns he understands what is going on, what he's doing and what he did.

more: http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/56838530?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp

[Ptah]

1. Husband: Giffords satisfied with Loughner plea

Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband, released a statement early Tuesday indicating
they have been in contact with prosecutors and support the deal.

"We don't speak for all of the victims or their families, but Gabby and I are
satisfied with this plea agreement. The pain and loss caused by the events
of January 8, 2011 are incalculable. Avoiding a trial will allow us _ and we hope
the whole Southern Arizona community _ to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives," Kelly wrote.

http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/husband-giffords-satisfied-with-loughner-plea/article_2a728457-1674-5a20-87fa-51d8c962021a.html

[maddezmom]

2. Live blog: Hearing underway in Arizona shootings

Update at 3:11 p.m. ET: "Does the medication... interfere" with ability to make choice of entering guilty plea? Judge asks Pietz. She responds that medication helps Loughner make choices.

Update at 3:07 p.m.: Pietz again concludes that Loughner is competent. Defense attorney Judy Clark says she has no questions for Pietz. Judge Burns asking Pietz some questions.

Update at 2:59 pm ET: "My concern is someone will harm him" if he is placed in a prison's general population, Pietz says. But she says he does understand the proceedings, and that he understands he must spend the rest of his life in prison.

Update at 2:55 pm ET: Pietz says Loughner is now able to orient time and place, and no longer shows signs he's hearing voices.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/judge-to-review-plea-deal-in-arizona-shootings/1?csp=34news#.UCFp702PW8A

[Ptah]

3. Judge: Loughner is competent for trial

Jared Lee Loughner is competent to stand trial in the Tucson a federal judge has ruled.

Loughner’s legal team was able to convince U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns
that Loughner is mentally fit to make the plea, which saves the 24-year-old college
dropout from facing the death penalty.


http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/judge-loughner-is-competent-for-trial/article_37a74f20-e0c5-11e1-9bc5-001a4bcf887a.html