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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The latest on a mental competency hearing for a man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic: (All times local)
5:15 p.m.
A hearing on the mental state of a man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic has ended for the day without a ruling on whether he is competent to stand trial.
Defendant Robert Dear will return to court on May 10.
Forensic psychologist Jackie Grimmett testified that the 57-year-old Dear suffers from a delusional disorder and believes the FBI is persecuting him and that President Barack Obama is the Antichrist.
Grimmett said the disorder rendered Dear incompetent to stand trial. She said he lacks a rational understanding of the case against him and distrusts his attorneys too much to help with his defense.
If a judge rules that Dear is incompetent, his case would be put on hold while he gets treatment intended to restore him to competency.
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4:45 p.m.
A forensic psychologist says a man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic suffers from a delusional disorder that causes him to believe the FBI is persecuting him and that President Barack Obama is the Antichrist.
Jackie Grimmett testified Thursday that 57-year-old Robert Dear is incompetent to stand trial because of the disorder. She said Dear lacks a rational understanding of the case against him and distrusts his attorneys too much to help with his defense.
If a judge rules that Dear is incompetent, his case would be put on hold while he gets treatment intended to restore him to competency.
Dear is charged with 179 counts including murder, attempted murder and assault for the Nov. 27 shootings in Colorado Springs. Nine other people were injured.
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12:20 p.m.
A forensic psychologist says she and a colleague who evaluated the man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic determined that he is not competent to stand trial.
Jackie Grimmett says she met with 57-year-old Robert Dear twice for a mental evaluation and by the end of the second interview, both agreed he has a mental illness impairing his functional ability. She did not provide details as testimony continued Thursday to determine if Dear should be committed to a psychiatric hospital. If a judge agrees, Dear's case would stall indefinitely while he gets treatment.
A Colorado Springs detective testified earlier that Dear told people that he believes a move by defense attorneys to have him declared mentally incompetent is part of a plot to diminish his message opposing abortion.
A judge ordered Dear's mental evaluation after he announced he wanted to fire his public defenders and represent himself.
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11 a.m.
A Colorado Springs police detective says the man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic told people after his arrest that he believes a move by defense attorneys to have him declared mentally incompetent is part of a plot to diminish his message opposing abortion.
Detective Jerry Schiffelbein testified Thursday that 57-year-old Robert Dear made a number of phone calls after he was charged with 179 counts including murder, attempted murder and assault for the Nov. 27 shooting that also injured nine. He says Dear told people he believed federal agents were out to get him before he decided to make his last stand by attacking what he called the "evilest place on Earth."
A judge ordered Dear's mental evaluation after he announced he wanted to fire his public defenders and represent himself.
His defense wants him committed to a psychiatric hospital. If a judge agrees, Dear's case would stall indefinitely while he gets treatment.
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1:10 a.m.
The man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic will return to court for a discussion of his mental health.
Thursday's hearing will focus on whether 57-year-old Robert Dear is competent to continue with his criminal case. A doctor who conducted Dear's competency exam and a police detective could testify.
A judge ordered Dear's mental evaluation after he announced he wanted to fire his public defenders and represent himself.
Prosecutors charged Dear with 179 counts including murder, attempted murder and assault for the Nov. 27 shooting that also injured nine.
During courtroom outbursts, he declared himself a "warrior for the babies" and said he was guilty.
His defense wants him committed to a psychiatric hospital. If a judge agrees, Dear's case would stall indefinitely while he gets treatment.
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