CNN reported that Dear loudly proclaimed himself “guilty” and had almost 20 other outbursts in the courtroom as he was charged with 179 felony charges, including eight options of first-degree murder and 131 counts of attempted first-degree murder. He also said, “I am guilty. No trial [needed]. I’m a warrior for the babies”, said Planned Parenthood shooting suspect Robert Dear in court Wednesday. “Let it all come out”.
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Wednesday’s hearing was supposed to be a hearing on the formal filing of charges against the accused Planned Parenthood shooter. It wasn’t immediately clear what impact his outbursts might have on the case against him since he was not being asked to enter a plea on Wednesday.
“He ranted that he saw atrocities in the clinic and lots of blood”. He is represented by lawyer Daniel King, a public defender who was also one of the lawyers for James Holmes, the mass shooter at the Colorado movie theater.
“I’m not going to agree to their mental health evaluations where they want to take me and put me under psychotropic drugs, so that I can’t talk like the batman guy”, he said.
Addressing the judge, defence attorney Dan King raised the issue of Dear’s mental competency to stand trial, saying, “I think the problem is obvious”.
A portrait of Dear emerged after the shooting, depicting an isolated man who entertained survivalist ideas and had rambled to police about “baby parts” after his arrest.
That was the case in Colorado Springs, where a recording of police radio transmissions shows officers were trying to find the gunman and save injured civilians while under deadly fire themselves.
Dear could face the death penalty, but prosecutors have not decided whether to seek the death penalty, and that would not occur until after Dear is arraigned, May said.
Dear also said “protect the babies”, during the court appearance.
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards added, “Words matter”. His next hearing is scheduled for December 23. Killed in the attack were police officer Garrett Swasey, a father of two, Army veteran Ke’Arre Stewart, a father of two, and Jennifer Markovsky, a mother of two. Nine people were wounded, including five other officers. None of the three worked for Planned Parenthood.
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Planned Parenthood has said the videos, which alleged illegal fetal organ sales, were heavily edited and inaccurate.
