World | Pakistan
Seddiqi 'mentally unfit for US trial'
A Pakistani woman accused of trying to kill a US soldier and FBI agents while in custody in Afghanistan is mentally unfit for trial, according to a court-ordered psychological evaluation.
- AP
- Published: 23:40 November 18, 2008
New York: A Pakistani woman accused of trying to kill a US soldier and FBI agents while in custody in Afghanistan is mentally unfit for trial, according to a court-ordered psychological evaluation.
Aafia Seddiqi is unable to understand the nature and consequences of court proceedings and cannot assist properly in her defence, the evaluation at the Federal Medical Centre Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas determined. US District Judge Richard M. Berman described the results in an order sent to attorneys on Monday.
Seddiqi was charged with attempted murder and assault after she was accused of grabbing a rifle at a police station in Afghanistan in July and shooting at US Army and law enforcement personnel.
Health treatment
She was shot and wounded as well. In August, she was taken to the United States to face the charges.
At the request of her lawyer, Elizabeth Fink, and federal prosecutors, she was transferred last month to the Texas facility that specialises in mental health treatment for women.
Fink said on Monday that she anticipated a heated conversation at today's hearing about whether Seddiqi should be medicated for depression. Fink said she was not surprised her client was incompetent for trial.
"There's every reason to believe that she was broken and that what happened to her that put her in this state was caused by her being held by the dark side, whether that's the Americans or the Pakistanis or the Afghanis," Fink said.
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