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Judge Finds Planned Parenthood Shooting Suspect Unfit for Trial | |
(35 minutes later) | |
COLORADO SPRINGS — A Colorado judge on Wednesday declared the confessed gunman in a shooting rampage last November at a Planned Parenthood clinic here mentally incompetent to stand trial. Three people were killed and nine were wounded in the attack. | |
Judge Gilbert Martinez said that the man, Robert L. Dear Jr., had delusions and paranoia that impaired his understanding of the proceedings and made him unable to work with his defense lawyers. | |
He ordered Mr. Dear to a state mental hospital where he will be treated until he is declared competent. | He ordered Mr. Dear to a state mental hospital where he will be treated until he is declared competent. |
Mr. Dear has been charged with 179 counts, including first-degree murder and attempted murder. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. | Mr. Dear has been charged with 179 counts, including first-degree murder and attempted murder. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. |
Mr. Dear admitted to the shooting during a court appearance on Dec. 9, when he declared, “I’m guilty. There’s no trial. I’m a warrior for the babies.” | Mr. Dear admitted to the shooting during a court appearance on Dec. 9, when he declared, “I’m guilty. There’s no trial. I’m a warrior for the babies.” |
The competency evaluation was ordered by Judge Martinez after Mr. Dear tried to fire his public defenders and serve as his own lawyer. | The competency evaluation was ordered by Judge Martinez after Mr. Dear tried to fire his public defenders and serve as his own lawyer. |
Two state psychologists who examined Mr. Dear concluded that he was not fit to stand trial. One, Jackie Grimmett, said Mr. Dear had multiple delusions that distorted his reality. For instance, for 20 years he had thought that “the feds” were after him, and had planted a listening device in his pickup truck. He described the Planned Parenthood clinic that he struck on Nov. 27 as the most evil place in the world. | Two state psychologists who examined Mr. Dear concluded that he was not fit to stand trial. One, Jackie Grimmett, said Mr. Dear had multiple delusions that distorted his reality. For instance, for 20 years he had thought that “the feds” were after him, and had planted a listening device in his pickup truck. He described the Planned Parenthood clinic that he struck on Nov. 27 as the most evil place in the world. |
Mr. Dear has insisted that he is competent and ready to stand trial. A Colorado Springs police detective said at a hearing last month that Mr. Dear had told him during more than seven hours of questioning after the shooting that he feared an insanity ruling would diminish his anti-abortion message. | Mr. Dear has insisted that he is competent and ready to stand trial. A Colorado Springs police detective said at a hearing last month that Mr. Dear had told him during more than seven hours of questioning after the shooting that he feared an insanity ruling would diminish his anti-abortion message. |