Loughner, suspect in Giffords shooting, back in Tucson after mental exams

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Source: The Washington Post

As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords learned about the delay of her husband’s launch of the last flight of the space shuttle Endeavour at Cape Canaveral, Fla., the case against the man accused of shooting her in the head in January was proceeding in federal court in Arizona, focusing on his mental state.

Jared Lee Loughner was taken back to Tucson on Thursday after undergoing mental exams in Missouri, said David Gonzales, the U.S. marshal in Arizona. He had spent five weeks at a federal prison facility in Springfield, Mo., Gonzales said.

Loughner has pleaded not guilty to a 49-count indictment in the shootings that killed six people and wounded 13 at a Tucson meet-and-greet held by the Democratic Arizona congresswoman.

Although it is not clear whether Loughner’s attorneys will mount an insanity defense, experts in high-profile cases have said the attorneys probably will focus on using his troubled mental state to keep him off death row. Prosecutors are expected to counter any insanity defense with evidence that they say shows that Loughner meticulously planned the shootings.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/loughner_back_in_tuscon_after_mental_exams/2011/04/29/AF0IKZEF_story.html