AZ shooting suspect not cooperating, sheriff says (& lawyer who defended McVeigh has taken his case)

[Turborama]

Source: MSNBC

TUCSON, Ariz. — A 22-year-old man charged with trying to assassinate a U.S. congresswoman in a shooting spree that left six people dead has remained silent and has not been cooperating with the investigation, according to a sheriff.

Jared Loughner, described as a social outcast with wild beliefs steeped in paranoia and deep distrust of government, was due to make his first court appearance Monday at 4 p.m. ET.

=snip=

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, where the shootings occurred, said Loughner was not cooperating and told ABC News the suspect had said "not a word" to investigators.

=snip=

Loughner will be represented in court by Judy Clarke, the lawyer who helped defend Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, the federal defenders' office said. "Our understanding is that Judy Clarke is who is assigned to the case and she has accepted," Manny Tarango, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Phoenix, said.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40997616/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

[Jackpine Radical]

1. …thereby providing evidence that he is competent to stand trial.

Nor, imho, will an ngri fly here. For one thing, I think AZ is a M'Naughten state, and ngri's are especially difficult to get in non-ALI states.

[kiranon]

3. Agree. His going to a second Wal-Mart for ammunition after being

unsuccessful in getting any at the first Wal-Mart also shows he was legally competent and knowingly planning to do harm IMHO.

[Initech]

2. To quote the show Breaking Bad: "There are criminal attorneys, and there are *CRIMINAL* attorneys"

[-..__...]

18. Better call Saul!!

http://www.bettercallsaul.com

[awoke_in_2003]

19. he has legal right to representation...

no matter how disgusting he is.

[zydeco]

4. Does anyone else find it strange that

this guy lived with his parents and yet I have seen no comment from the parents and/or media inquiries/coverage on them. Did they see their son as mentally unstable as reported by many others who knew him. I know that it is early in the investigation but usually there are earlier reports. Something seems strange about this.

[slackmaster]

5. If my live-in adult child was arrested and accused of a horrible crime, I'd keep my mouth shut

A person can only get himself or herself into trouble by saying anything to anyone.

[zydeco]

6. True

but no media coverage?

[slackmaster]

8. I'd love to see the media, just once, not take an opportunity to hound someone for dirt

:hi:

[Nostradammit]

17. Especially in this case, I'll bet.

[bemildred]

7. Yep, "anything you say can and will be used against you".

And nothing you can say in public will help your kid either.

[MilesColtrane]

10. I'm sure they've been advised not to speak to the media.

We know their names and that they received a letter from Pima Community College alerting them to their son's behavior and possible mental problems.

If you're looking for hard hitting, shaking paparazzi video of them going to and from work or to the grocery, I'm sure TMZ has somebody on it.

[Kali]

15. there has been a little info

but would you be out in public if your son did this?

[The Second Stone]

9. As a lawyer I have to say that Ms. Clarke saved

Ted Kaczynski's life when the prosecution had a strong death penalty case and Kaczynski was doing his best to thwart her.

Getting this accused on medication may well get him talking if he doesn't get the death penalty.

[hootinholler]

12. She's sharp enough to take on the RW hate machine.

This should be an enlightening defense if the courts can't prevent her to go there.

-Hoot

[earcandle]

11. Seems like this kid and his companion are being protected somehow.

If this was a planned right wing event, they will do their
best to protect him.  
Parents won't be shamed.  Hope this isn't what happens.  That
would be a real
slap in the face to all of us. 

[sabrina 1]

13. The father has been described by neighbors as 'very aggressive'

not friendly, and no one seems to know what he works at as he never spoke to neighbors much other than to yell at them about garbage issues eg, according to at least one neighbor. The mother appears to have a good job with the county and has held it for a long time. But, no one seems to have much interaction with her either, in the neighborhood.

Reporters who went to the house, got no response and claimed it was difficult to see the house because of foliage etc. surrounding it.

I don't blame them for remaining silent. I would think they are in as much shock as anyone else affected by this awful tragedy. But it is obvious they were aware of their son's problems.

[Kali]

16. his companion?

you mean the cab driver?

[EFerrari]

21. There was no companion, there was a cab driver.

And there is no reason to shame the parents, they didn't have any part of this that we know of.

[Edweird]

14. How did things turn out for Mr. McVeigh?

[cowcommander]

20. I like how they also shaved his eyebrows