AirTalk for May 24, 2011
Is Loughner competent to stand trial?
Bill Robles/AFP/Getty Images
This courtroom drawing shows shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner in court on January 10, 2011 in Tuscon, Arizona.
Tomorrow a federal court in Tucson, Arizona is expected to rule on whether Jared Lee Loughner is competent to stand trial. The young man stands accused in the infamous January shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others. The violent rampage that left six people dead – including a little girl and a federal judge – shook the country. New reports suggest that Loughner will be found incompetent to stand trial – for now. How is competency assessed in such cases? How do you quantify "crazy?" Could he be medicated in order to be competent for trial at a later date? What will public reaction be if he is found incompetent?
Guest:
George Parnham, Criminal Defense Attorney, Represented Andrea Yates


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