Jared Loughner pleads guilty to six deaths in shooting

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The man accused of shooting a US congresswoman in Arizona and killing six others has pleaded guilty after a judge found him mentally competent.

Last year, Jared Loughner's case was put on hold after experts said he had schizophrenia.

The plea deal spares Loughner, 23, from the death penalty, and he is expected to be sentenced to life in jail.

Former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords was wounded in the January 2011 attack and has since left office.

Earlier on Tuesday she said she would be satisfied with Loughner's plea deal. Her husband Mark Kelly wrote: "The pain and loss caused by the events of January 8, 2011, are incalculable.

"Avoiding a trial will allow us - and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community - to continue with our recovery and move forward with our lives."

Courtroom outburst

Loughner has been forcibly medicated with psychotropic drugs for more than a year at a prison hospital in Springfield, Missouri.

A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf last year.

Loughner is charged with 49 criminal counts including first-degree murder.

Tuesday's proceedings were the fourth time he appeared in court for a judge to determine his mental competence.

In May 2011 Loughner was declared unfit to stand trial after he had an outburst in the courtroom.

His stay in hospital was previously extended after a judge found that "measureable progress" had been made by those treating him.

The college dropout is charged with killing six people and wounding 13 others, including the former congresswoman, in the attack in Tucson, Arizona.

Ms Giffords, a Democrat, was holding a regular constituency event at a supermarket when she was shot in the head at close range.

A federal judge and a nine-year-old girl were among the victims of the shooting.

Ms Giffords' seat is now occupied by Ron Barber, her former aide, who was also injured in the shooting. He is standing for re-election to a full two-year term in November.