Loughner incompetent to stand trial
Posted: May 25, 2011 3:36 PM EDT Updated: May 25, 2011 4:05 PM EDT


(Source: CNN)
Jared Lee Loughner

PHOENIX (RNN) - A federal judge has ruled that the man accused of wounding U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killing six others is incompetent to stand trial.

U.S. District Judge Larry Burns made the ruling that has put the criminal case against Jared Lee Loughner, 21, on hold indefinitely.

During the hearing, a bearded, shaggy-haired Loughner had to be removed from court after an outburst, and watched the rest of the proceeding on a TV screen in another room.

According to Tucson, AZ, television station KOLD, Loughner was heard yelling, "She died in front of me!"

Three U.S. Marshals grabbed Loughner and escorted him from the courtroom.

Witnesses said they also heard him yell, "Welcome to the freak show," or "Thank you for the free kill." His final outburst was either, "You're treasonous," or "You're cheating us," KOLD reported.

He was heard yelling other things that were unintelligible, his head inches from the table in front of him.

Loughner was later brought back into the courtroom, and the judged told him he had a right to watch the hearing. Burns asked Loughner if he wanted to view the proceeding from another room.

Loughner responded: "I want to watch the TV screen."

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

Loughner spent five weeks in March and April at a federal facility in Missouri, where was examined by two court-appointed mental health professionals.

Neither of the examiners testified at the hearing.

http://www.fox19.com/story/14716475/loug...ormat=HTML