http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44703763...me_and_courts/
Quote:
A federal judge has ruled that the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage can eventually be made mentally fit to stand trial.
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns on Wednesday extended Jared Lee Loughner's detention for four more months, saying that "measurable progress has been made" in restoring him to competency.
Loughner has been at a prison facility in Missouri the last four months after Burns found him mentally unfit for trial.
Experts have concluded Loughner suffers from schizophrenia, and prosecutors contend Loughner can be made competent with more mental health treatment. But Loughner's attorneys argue prosecutors have failed to prove that it's probable his condition will improve enough.
Loughner has pleaded not guilty to 49 charges stemming from the Jan. 8 shooting that killed six and wounded 13, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Dr. Christina Pietz testified Wednesday that Loughner, who is being forcibly medicated, remains on suicide watch but is no longer having auditory hallucinations. She says she has no reason to think he won't keep getting better. Pietz has been treating Loughner at a Missouri prison facility.
Pietz added Loughner "understands that he has murdered people" and "talks about how remorseful he is."
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Can anyone explain to me what will likely happen at this trial? Like, are they attempting to prosecute him as they would any other person?
If so, am I the only one that finds it inheritantly wrong to hold a mentally ill man responsible for crimes he committed while mentally ill? Maybe I am completely naive, but the concept of making him sane so he can be punished for things he did while insane is horrific to me - it's like cheating just so he can be sentenced. The prosecution seem to want the maximum penalty, and were almost devastated when he was determined to be mentally incompetent due to schizophrenia. He was not responsible for his actions, and like thousands of people, for years he went undiagnosed with a very serious mental disorder. Anyone have experience or knowledge of trials like this?