Judge Rules Phillip Garrido Is Competent To Stand Trial
PLACERVILLE, Calif. (CBS13/AP) - An El Dorado County judge has declared Phillip Garrido mentally competent to stand trial for the kidnapping and rape of Jaycee Lee Dugard.
Lawyers for Phillip Garrido had argued that he is not mentally competent for trial, and a jury was set to hear arguments on the competency issue.
But both sides agreed instead to let El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Douglas Phimister decide the issue.
After the agreement was announced in court Thursday, Phimister quickly issued his ruling, based on numerous psychiatric reports.
Garrido and his wife Nancy are charged with kidnapping Dugard and holding her captive for 18 years.
Criminal proceedings against Phillip Garrido had been suspended until the issue of his sanity was settled.
