Planned Parenthood shooter ruled incompetent

Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

A man who acknowledged killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic is mentally incompetent to continue with his criminal case, a judge ruled Wednesday, stalling the proceedings and potentially setting the stage for a mental-health defense.

The decision by Judge Gilbert Martinez puts the case against Robert Dear, 57, on hold until treatment restores his ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his defense. He will be sent to the state psychiatric hospital, and his mental health will be reviewed in August.

Two psychologists have found he has a delusion disorder, which they said keeps him from trusting almost anyone, including his lawyers. Judge Martinez agreed with their findings, writing in his order that Dear’s “perceptions and understanding are not rational and are not grounded in reality.”

As he was led out of the courtroom, Dear yelled at the judge: “That’s called prejudiced! Prejudiced! Filthy animal!”

Dear is charged with 179 counts, including murder and attempted murder, stemming from the Nov. 27 shooting at the Colorado Springs clinic that also left nine injured.