The so-called Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, has been judged to be mentally competent to stand trial for the murder of three people during a 17-year terror campaign in the United States.

Psychiatrists said Mr Kaczynski was capable of understanding what was happening to him and was able to assist his lawyers.

The Unabomber killed three people

Both sides in the case agreed that he is competent to stand trial - the minimum requirement for a US defendant who wants to act as his own lawyer.

Mr Kaczysnki, who was examined last week by a government psychiatrist, had demanded the right to represent himself rather than let his lawyers portray him as mentally ill.

The issue of who would represent Mr Kaczynski - his current lawyers, a new attorney or the defendant himself - was not immediately resolved.

Three dead, 29 injured

Prosecutors hope to link Mr Kacynski to all attacks attributed to the anti-technology Unabomber, who killed three people and injured 29 over 17 years with explosives that were mailed or delivered to their victims.

The Montana cabin home to Kaczynski for 25 years

The question of Mr Kaczynski's competence was triggered by his request to serve as his own attorney. He made the request after the judge turned down his request to fire his court-appointed lawyers.

Meanwhile, Mr Kaczynski has been removed from a suicide watch and moved back to a normal jail cell. He had been transferred to a 24-hour surveillance cell after an apparent suicide attempt.
 

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