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BY JESSICA FLY
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The man who witnesses say shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- has a new court-ordered prescription.
Jared Lee Loughner - will be forced to take anti psychotic drugs.
WFXT reports-- Federal Judge Larry Burns gave the final go ahead.
“A federal judge has ruled that Jared Lee Loughner can be forced to take anti psychotic drugs. Loughner’s defense team filed a request with the court claiming that he should not be forced to take the medication without a judge’s consent.”
The defense worries a medicated Loughner would be forced to stand trial.
KGUN talked to the Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness who says, understanding the purpose behind administering the drugs is critical.
“If they are just trying to sedate him as you suggested before, then in terms of controlling their personnel, perhaps that’s within their purview. If they’re trying to accomplish more than that, without a court hearing, then that’s when I would say they’ve overstepped their bounds. Now the judge obviously didn’t see it that way.”
Judge Burns agreed with mental health experts who evaluated Loughner -- saying the drugs were for his own safety. Here’s TIME.
“[Judge] Burns rejected defense claims that the prison forced the medications in an effort to make Loughner competent to stand trial, a bid that may have required a higher burden of proof that drugs were necessary...prosecutors had no part in the decision to force the drugs on Loughner...”
With medication doled out, ABC reports -- Loughner’s trial could proceed in a few months, if his mental state improves.
“Under the court’s order, Loughner will undergo treatment for four months to see if his mental health can be improved. There’s no guarantee that it will. During Wednesday’s proceedings, Loughner rocked back and forth in court, so apparently troubled he may never stand trial for a crime that there is overwhelming evidence he committed.”
Loughner will be re-examined in September to determine if he’s mentally competent to stand trial for the February rampage that left six people dead.
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