Mental Exam Focus Of Hearing In Colorado Clinic Shooting
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The man who acknowledges killing three people at a Colorado Springs 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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