Jared Loughner Pleads Guilty to Arizona Shooting
- Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:47pm by
Erica Ritz
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(File Photo)
(The Blaze/AP) — Jared Lee Loughner pleaded guilty Tuesday to going on a shooting rampage at a political gathering, killing six people and wounding 13 others, including his intended target, then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
Loughner’s plea spares him the death penalty and came soon after a federal judge found that months of forcibly medicating him to treat his schizophrenia had made the 23-year-old college dropout competent.
At one point, Judge Larry A. Burns asked Loughner if he understood the charges against him and what the government would need to convict him.
“Yes, I understand,” Loughner replied.
The judge said that Loughner was a different person and that he is able to help his lawyers in his defense. Burns said that observing Loughner in the court left “no question that he understands what’s happening today.”
Loughner faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The outcome was welcomed by some victims, including Giffords herself, as a way to avoid a lengthy, possibly traumatic trial and years of legal wrangling over a death sentence.
“The pain and loss caused by the events of Jan. 8, 2011, are incalculable,” Giffords said in a joint statement with her husband, Mark Kelly. “Avoiding a trial will allow us – and we hope the whole Southern Arizona community – to continue with our recovery.”
David Hernandez, a former staff intern for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was with Giffords on the day of the shooting, arrives at court for a hearing for alleged shooter Jared Loughner. (Photo: AP)
Experts had concluded that Loughner suffers from schizophrenia, and officials at a federal prison have forcibly medicated him with psychotropic drugs for more than a year.
Court-appointed pyschologist Christina Pietz testified for an hour about how she believes Loughner became competent. Loughner listened calmly without expression. His arms were crossed over his stomach, lurched slightly forward and looking straight at Pietz.
At one point, he smiled and nodded when psychologist mentioned he had a special bond with one of the prison guards.
A plea agreement offers something for both sides, said Quin Denvir, a California defense attorney who has worked with Loughner attorney Judy Clarke on the case against unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
Prosecutors would avoid a potentially lengthy and costly trial and appeal, knowing that the defendant will be locked up for life. Clarke managed to avoid the death penalty for other high-profile clients such as Kaczynski and Eric Rudolph, who bombed abortion clinics in the late 1990s and Atlanta’s Olympic park in 1996.
The top prosecutor in southern Arizona’s Pima County said last year that she may file state charges in the case that could carry the death penalty. An official in the prosecutor’s office, Amelia Craig Cramer, declined to comment, saying the office did not have an active prosecution against Loughner.
Denvir said it was possible that the plea agreement calls for the state to avoid pursuing criminal charges against Loughner, though that’s not a given.
“Ideally (as a defense attorney) you’d like to have it resolved all at once, but sometimes you have to take one at a time,” he said.
The decision to spare Loughner a federal death sentence makes sense, said Dale Baich, a federal public defender in Phoenix who handles capital case appeals and isn’t involved in the case.
“As time went on and there were numerous evaluations, I think everybody had a better understanding of Mr. Loughner’s mental illness.” Baich said.
He added: “It appears that he will need to be treated for the rest of his life in order to remain competent.”
—
Christie reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Pete Yost in Washington and Barry Massey in Santa Fe, N.M., contributed to this report.
This post will be updated.
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w3bmstr
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:25pmPeople like this guy and the guy in Colorado need to be made into examples . Society dose not need
Report Post »to tolerate this . There is no doubt he committed this heinous crime therefore his life should be fore-fitted without hesitation . The only rights people like this should have is the choice of the rope the chair or a bullet , highlights at 6 …
paprtowl
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:41amwhat type of a twisted legal system would allow a confessed murderer to continue to live. he is competent . this includes a g holders signoff . this is a local incident including murder and wounding of gabby”s district . this is not justice .
Report Post »marcus_arealius
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:25amI heard someplace that Loughner had a email relationship with Harry Reid right up to the day of the shootings.. and that Harry refused to fly to Tuscon that day to have their usual one on one sex encounter at the Motel 29.. and Loughner went into a rage.
I can’t remember where I heard that, I’ll look for it..
Report Post »PapaJohannesPatriot
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 11:14pmOkay, the creep avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty. Just release him into the general pop in prison. end of story.
Report Post »woodcellar
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:02pmThe only reason it cost most more to execute than in prison is the end less ********* appeals. This guy dogged to bullet so to speak because his parent are good Dems. The sheriff that gave him the permit to buy the gun was a good Dems, even though he had problems with him be for.People like this should be execute so we can have safe world. Someone like him will always be a threat to people rather citizen or prison gaaurd. That why they need to gone for ever so they don’t hurt someone else. Good people have the right to remove these threat not year later but now.
Report Post »crabbyoldman
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 9:54pmI though Sarah & Rush did it?????????
Report Post »foxrocks
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:01pmWhat a joke..Three Hots and a cot for life, on the taxpayers dime………Just like Charlie Manson…….too bad he wasn;’t in Texas…….Huntsville would have the hole dug for him already…..
Report Post »Heffe44
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:44pmExecuting somebody is more costly then life in prison.
Report Post »Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:27pmHe admitted he shot them all (like there was ever any doubt). Stand him up against the wall, one .308 to the head, drop him in a box, and lets be done with this. The tax payers should not have to pay benefits to this guy for the rest of his life (which could easily be 50+ years). Justice is supposed to be swift. 2,700fps is pretty fast justice.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:31pmIs his sentence-life in prison without parole or- life in prison? i did not hear them say on the news-without parole.Life in prison can mean 20years-less if he behaves. I like the way both the media and the government are always on the same page when it comes to defending the judicial system;always saying things to appease the pulbic but not necessarily being forthwright with the truth[the actual sentence here].I like how they say that the death penalty would add to the grief of the victims famiies as it would mean a long process. That’s to send the message to the public that we should abolish the death penalty”for the sake of the victims families’. deceitfully- putings the onus on the victims families if a murderer gets the death penalty!How unjust and deceitful is thatt!How we[our government and our media ] cover up for our cold blooded murderers in this country-unless they’re muslim of course.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:59pm@Heffe44 Yeah, if you attempt any of the liberal’s proposed “compassionate”, more “humane” methods of execution. The Aurora murderer killed 12 in less than an hour, and our Justice system can’t execute a murderer because the legal process might be too long? WTH is going on with our country? There were plenty of witnesses at the Arizona incident, and more than enough evidence, and we’re here NEGOTIATING with him?! Seriously? We have to make a deal with him so that he can confess? I say we hang all these treasonous b-stards in Government that don’t know how to perfrom their constitutional duties… Justice in 2012? LMAO!
“How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards… Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. WOE unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:39pmexterminate him NO WAITING NO MERCY NO PITTY he gave NONE to those he KILLED.. EXTERMINATE HIM NOW NO PLEA BARGINS NO LIFE SENTANCE DEATH N HELL SHOULD BE HIS LAST MEAL
Report Post »paprtowl
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:31pmthere is something to be said for a tree or a gallows .
Report Post »teebubba
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:26pmI thought pleas were for prosecutors to make sure they got a conviction. This MF didn’t deserve any leniency short of the death penalty.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:12pmyeah this is the top group of people that have been responsible for attacks like this in our country.
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:10pmThis guy just screams “dittohead.”
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:25pmAnd you sound very stupid…troll. You need to take your agitating stupidity somewhere else. I have many more descriptive names for you but you wouldn’t understand.
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:33pmthis obama supporter you mean?
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:51pmCaptaincrunch- Agitating? That was a good one ;) The dancer is one of the Blaze’s most consistent contributors. He always brings the real high brow stuff.
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:53pmCAPTAINKKKRUNCH . . . Frustrating, aren’t I? Yes, just ask SLEDGE down there. He’s still lying on the couch with a bag of frozen peas on his nether regions.
I know I’ve left you in a puddle now and again in the past, but that doesn‘t mean we can’t be friends now. What’s it gonna take? I know, how about a chicken sandwich. mmm mmm mmm. That’s the good stuff.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:27pmI can see that I have carved out a little nook for myself somewhere in that cavernous, hate filled heart of yours, dancer. It‘s why you can’t resist my posts. THEDGE is under your skin and THE BECK has ya by the balls. Good times!!
Report Post »HorseDancer
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:04pmSLEDGE . . .Not at all. I’m as free as a baby. I also know your’e always lurking about waiting to seize on my brilliance and change a word or two to try and sound clever. It’s an interesting sociological experiment I execute around here. You’re in my control group.
Report Post »Dont_you_tread_on_me
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:09pmPlea? Plea? put a dam hollow point in his head. punishment fit the crime.O yeah and also that pos who shot up fort hood.O yeah and that pos who shot up movie theater in Aurora.Put a dam bullet in all their heads.I do not want to support them in jail. wake up and start killin thease pos’s.Please let me shoot the first pos.
Report Post »h20sue
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:07pmPrison is too good for this fella. Why should we give him three full meals, free dental, health care, color TV, and he live better then most people struggling in the USA? Are they nuts. They ought to take him and Holmes who killed all the folks in Aurora and lynch them! Save taxpayers a ton of money for legal fees with Holmes, and do us all a favor. There were olenty of witnesses, so why waste money and time? A needle to the arm is just too easy. I think they should be taken out to he middle of the town in which they committed the acts, and hung. Maybe then, the nonsense will cease! Our judicial system is ridiculous, courts are much to easy, prison’s much too crowded, and we need to make major changes….
Report Post »Did they have any sympathy to those they killed and wounded? NO! We are Christians, but we’re not stupid.
The only people getting rich from this are tabloids, and attorney’s. We are tired of the nonsense.
There was an old western, and we should follow their message….”HANG EM HIGH!”
justangry
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:03pmMan, I just keep thinking of that 8 year old little girl, and not sure life in prison is enough.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:20pmI know. That guy deserves a fate worse than death for what he did.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:27pmTake away his meds and make him live in his head.
Report Post »Al Gator
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:32pmHey Just, you may get your wish. While in stir, he MUST take his meds, which make him “normal” and as a normal guy, that little girl will tear him to pieces. While back on his meds, he now understands what he did, and he AIN’T liking it.
People keep screaming and screeching “gunz, gunz, gunz, what kind did he use? where did he get them? blahblahblah.”
First thing I ask anymore is “medz, medz, medz, who jacked him up and then let him loose in the streets?”
He went OFF his meds and momma, sheriff and shrink all wondered why he was so “CRAZY.”
You can’t take major mind bending medz, then just quit because you feel like it. Doctors ALL know of this little “quirk” about mind bending medz.
If they let this guy go Off his medz CatB, it will only put him back into his insane Happy Land. Keep him on them and his “sane” soul will tear him apart.
Folks, we need to start outing the psychobabblers who create these monsters with their stupidity and total lack of understanding of what they create when they hand out happy pills like lunch. Then when their little Frankensteins get hold of dangerous tools and do bad stuff, they stand back and scream and squeal about gunz, gunz, gunz, as though their bloody little hands had nothing at all to do with it.
Makes me damn MAD there Angry. Thanks for the post so I could vent.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:53pm@Al Gator, Don’t even get me started… I’m sure these mind bending meds are what are harming so many veterans these days. They’re quick with a PTSD diagnosis and throwing the SSRI scripts at people. I’m half thinking the cure is worse than the original symptoms. It‘s not like the pharmaceutical companies give a rat’s ass about anyone. No sir, I think you‘re right on your assessment and we’re going to be facing A LOT more problems as more and more people get put on this crap.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 8:45pm@Al Gator They have a place reserved for God’s Judgement too.
Some of these drugs are a form of sorcery. They produce hallucinations and are mind altering. These are condemned by the bible.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:00pmPlease!…put him in general population…..
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:59pmLock him away into the bowels of history and my his name not be spoken again.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:54pmGreat! Now, what is taking so long with the Fort Hood nut job?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:00pmThey are probably still trying to talk him into shaving.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:08pmIt would be such a shame if he coughed while being shaved by a straight razor………….
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:37pmThat guy is, no doubt, on Obama’s long pardon list.
Report Post »www.TopTheNews.com
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 3:51pmAt least he didn’t get the insanity defense, which he clearly is…
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