Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / AMERICAS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Thursday, 22 February 2007, 22:50 GMT

Padilla 'not fit to stand trial'

Jose Padilla, January 2006 A US citizen suspected of being an al-Qaeda conspirator is mentally unfit to stand trial, a psychiatrist for his defence has said.

Speaking at a hearing to determine Jose Padilla's competence, Angela Hegarty said he lacked the capacity to assist his counsel in the case.

He is due to be tried in April along with two co-defendants.

Mr Padilla faces life in jail if convicted of plotting to murder, kidnap and maim persons in a foreign country.

Other charges against him allege he was part of a North American terror cell that provided support to radical Islamists around the world.

Dr Hegarty said after a 22-hour examination of the suspect that Mr Padilla had suffered from intense stress and anxiety following three-and-a-half years in custody as an "enemy combatant".

Mr Padilla claims he was tortured while being held on a brig at Charleston, South Carolina, a charge that officials deny.

The psychiatrist said Mr Padilla suffered from a facial tic, problems with social contact, lack of concentration and a form of Stockholm Syndrome, by which people in captivity sympathise with their captors.

His trial is scheduled to begin on 16 April with co-defendants Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi.

The co-defendants also face charges of providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to do so.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Court reinstates Padilla charge (31 Jan 07 |  Americas )
Court throws out Padilla charge (21 Aug 06 |  Americas )
US court rejects Padilla appeal (03 Apr 06 |  Americas )
US terror suspect's plea delayed (06 Jan 06 |  Americas )
US citizen faces terror charges (22 Nov 05 |  Americas )
Profile: Jose Padilla (22 Nov 05 |  Americas )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
US justice department
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©