Loughner to Plead Guilty in Giffords Shooting, Official Says

The Wall Street Journal ^ | August 4, 2012 | Evan Perez

[sitetest]

Jared Loughner, the young Tucson man accused of shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killing six people, is set to plead guilty Tuesday, an official familiar with the case said Saturday.

A psychologist appointed by the court is expected to say at the hearing that he is competent to plead guilty, the official said. A previously scheduled status hearing has been changed to a change-of-plea hearing.

In February, the psychologist said Mr. Loughner, a diagnosed schizophrenic, remained incompetent to stand trial. But she said at the time that the defendant was making progress toward competency, according to federal Judge Larry A. Burns, who is hearing the case.

[bill1952]

I don’t think that there is any such plea.

An acceptance of insanity by the court precludes guilt.

[sitetest]

Dear bill1952,

I don't think there's a plea of “guilty by reason of insanity,” but I did read the other day that in Arizona, pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity are not permitted.

There is a verdict of “guilty, but insane.” The upshot is the person convicted in this manner is committed to a mental hospital until such time, if it ever comes about, that he recovers from his insanity. At that time, he is sent to prison.

sitetest

[hummingbird]

"They aren’t charging him in the death of the judge he killed?" _________________

Maybe trial for killing the judge is held for a second trial in case things don't work out in the first. Also, shooting a judge makes the kind of crime different, doesn't it? I'm not sure.