Giffords Shooting Suspect Not Yet Ready for Trial
Jared Loughner is not yet competent to stand trial, according to the court-appointed psychologist in the case of the shooting that wounded Gabrielle Giffords.
Christina Pietz recommended evaluating Loughner’s competence in another four months, the Arizona Daily Star reported Thursday, citing a court order.
Loughner’s first four-month-stay is set to expire Feb. 8, and the judge in the case set a hearing for Monday to consider Pietz’s recommendation, the newspaper said.
“Dr. Pietz does, however, believe that the defendant has made measurable progress toward competency and that his mental state will continue to improve,” the Daily Star quoted U.S. District Judge Larry Burns as saying in his order.
Loughner killed six people and wounded another 13 when he opened fire at a constituent meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Jan. 8 2011 held by Giffords, who was then a congresswoman.
Giffords has recovered partially from her wounds, but this month resigned from Congress to focus fully on her recovery. Christina Pietz recommended evaluating Loughner’s competence in another four months, the Arizona Daily Star reported Thursday, citing a court order.
Loughner’s first four-month-stay is set to expire Feb. 8, and the judge in the case set a hearing for Monday to consider Pietz’s recommendation, the newspaper said.
“Dr. Pietz does, however, believe that the defendant has made measurable progress toward competency and that his mental state will continue to improve,” the Daily Star quoted U.S. District Judge Larry Burns as saying in his order.
Loughner killed six people and wounded another 13 when he opened fire at a constituent meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Jan. 8 2011 held by Giffords, who was then a congresswoman.
Giffords has recovered partially from her wounds, but this month resigned from Congress to focus fully on her recovery.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.