Jared Lee Loughner Unfit to Stand Trial

[stephen55]

A judge ruled today that Loughner is mentally unfit to stand trial.

http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011...l_competency_gabrielle_giffords_shooting.html

As the article notes, this is not the same as not guilty by reason of insanity. It means that the court feels Loughner is not mentally fit to understand the charges against him and is not fit to assist in his own defense.

He will be held in a federal psychiatric facility until he is fit to stand trial. Failing that, he might stay there for life.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Five bucks (either currency) gets you he'll never see the outside of a psych ward again.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Five bucks (either currency) gets you he'll never see the outside of a psych ward again.

I wouldn't even take long odds on that one, Bear. Can't risk having him get off on "insanity," no one would take kindly to that decision.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The mob is already calling for his head. They're not particularly upset that he shot a Congresswoman but killing a little girl really raises the boil.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

WRONG.

The guy who shot Reagan gets regular furloughs to leave his hospital to visit with his folks at their home. The whole affair is a charade to avoid trial and jail time.

 

[Handley_Page]

Aside: He ain't that mad:
"Loughner is unable to help with his defense because of his “irrational distrust of lawyers,”
sound pretty logical to me.

[sorry; I'll get my coat. . ]

 

[stephen55]

I doubt Loughner will ever go free. Even if he does stand trial and is found not guilty by reason of insanity (at the time of the shootings), he goes to a federal psychiatric facility, likely for good.

If he goes to trial and is found guilty, he gets the needle (after umpteen appeals), or he does life.

Loughner will never go free.

There is no charade here. The guy is very ill. The only question is whether he will ever be fit to stand trial.

My guess is that either way, he spends life in a secure psych facility.