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| Jared Lee Loughner sentenced to life in prison for Arizona shootings | Jared Lee Loughner sentenced to life in prison for Arizona shootings |
| (30 days later) | |
| The man who pleaded guilty to shooting the former US representative Gabrielle Giffords, in an attack that left six dead and 12 others injured, has been sentenced to life in prison. | The man who pleaded guilty to shooting the former US representative Gabrielle Giffords, in an attack that left six dead and 12 others injured, has been sentenced to life in prison. |
| US district judge Larry Burns sentenced Jared Lee Loughner, 24, on Thursday to seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years in prison for the January 2011 shooting. | US district judge Larry Burns sentenced Jared Lee Loughner, 24, on Thursday to seven consecutive life terms plus 140 years in prison for the January 2011 shooting. |
| Loughner pleaded guilty to federal charges under an agreement that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. | Loughner pleaded guilty to federal charges under an agreement that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. |
| The hearing marked the first time victims including Giffords could confront Loughner in court. Her husband spoke on her behalf, saying Loughner changed his wife's life forever but could not dent her spirit. | The hearing marked the first time victims including Giffords could confront Loughner in court. Her husband spoke on her behalf, saying Loughner changed his wife's life forever but could not dent her spirit. |
| Addressing the court Giffords' husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, told Loughner he had failed in his attempt to "extinguish the beauty of life". Giffords suffered a head wound that left her with speech difficulties, a paralysed right arm, diminished sight and a limp. | Addressing the court Giffords' husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, told Loughner he had failed in his attempt to "extinguish the beauty of life". Giffords suffered a head wound that left her with speech difficulties, a paralysed right arm, diminished sight and a limp. |
| Kelly used the occasion to take a political swipe at Arizona governor Jan Brewer, a staunch gun-rights advocate, criticising her for speaking out against proposed restrictions on high-capacity ammunition magazines, like the ones Loughner used, in the aftermath of the shooting. | Kelly used the occasion to take a political swipe at Arizona governor Jan Brewer, a staunch gun-rights advocate, criticising her for speaking out against proposed restrictions on high-capacity ammunition magazines, like the ones Loughner used, in the aftermath of the shooting. |
| "Jan Brewer said it had nothing to do with the size of the magazine … She said this just one week after you used a high-capacity magazine," Kelly said, also noting that she named a "state gun" weeks later instead of "fixing the education system". | "Jan Brewer said it had nothing to do with the size of the magazine … She said this just one week after you used a high-capacity magazine," Kelly said, also noting that she named a "state gun" weeks later instead of "fixing the education system". |
| Loughner, asked at the outset of the hearing by Judge Burns if he had chosen to waive his right to make a statement, answered in a low voice: "That's true." | Loughner, asked at the outset of the hearing by Judge Burns if he had chosen to waive his right to make a statement, answered in a low voice: "That's true." |
| He was otherwise silent as he sat next to his lawyer, Judy Clarke. | He was otherwise silent as he sat next to his lawyer, Judy Clarke. |
| Giffords stood by her husband's side, looking impassively at Loughner as Kelly addressed the defendant directly. "You may have put a bullet through her head, but you haven't put a dent in her commitment to make the world a better place," Kelly told him. | Giffords stood by her husband's side, looking impassively at Loughner as Kelly addressed the defendant directly. "You may have put a bullet through her head, but you haven't put a dent in her commitment to make the world a better place," Kelly told him. |
| "Although you were mentally ill, you were responsible," he added. "You have decades upon decades to contemplate what you did, but from this moment, Gabby and I are done thinking about you." Giffords did not speak. | "Although you were mentally ill, you were responsible," he added. "You have decades upon decades to contemplate what you did, but from this moment, Gabby and I are done thinking about you." Giffords did not speak. |
| Several survivors of the shooting also gave statements in court, including Giffords' former congressional aide Ron Barber, who also was wounded. | Several survivors of the shooting also gave statements in court, including Giffords' former congressional aide Ron Barber, who also was wounded. |
| Speaking to Loughner's parents, Amy and Randy, who were in court, Barber said: "Please know that I and my family hold no animosity toward you, and that I can appreciate how devastating the acts of your son were." | Speaking to Loughner's parents, Amy and Randy, who were in court, Barber said: "Please know that I and my family hold no animosity toward you, and that I can appreciate how devastating the acts of your son were." |
| Loughner pleaded guilty in August in federal court to 19 charges, including murder and attempted murder, in connection with the shootings outside a Tucson area supermarket. | Loughner pleaded guilty in August in federal court to 19 charges, including murder and attempted murder, in connection with the shootings outside a Tucson area supermarket. |
| He admitted going to a "Congress on your corner" event armed with a loaded Glock 19 pistol and 60 additional rounds of ammunition with plans to kill Giffords. | He admitted going to a "Congress on your corner" event armed with a loaded Glock 19 pistol and 60 additional rounds of ammunition with plans to kill Giffords. |
| Loughner shot her through the head at close range. Six people were killed, including US district judge John Roll and nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green. | Loughner shot her through the head at close range. Six people were killed, including US district judge John Roll and nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green. |
| Loughner also admitted shooting the others with the intent to kill. | Loughner also admitted shooting the others with the intent to kill. |
| Court-appointed experts said Loughner suffered from schizophrenia, disordered thinking and delusions. He was determined unfit to stand trial in May 2011 after he disrupted court proceedings and was dragged out of the courtroom. | Court-appointed experts said Loughner suffered from schizophrenia, disordered thinking and delusions. He was determined unfit to stand trial in May 2011 after he disrupted court proceedings and was dragged out of the courtroom. |
| Loughner later was ruled mentally competent to stand trial after being treated for psychosis at a US bureau of prisons psychiatric hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He then agreed to plead guilty. | Loughner later was ruled mentally competent to stand trial after being treated for psychosis at a US bureau of prisons psychiatric hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He then agreed to plead guilty. |
| Few clues to the motives for the attack have emerged. Prison psychologist Christina Pietz has testified that Loughner had expressed remorse for the rampage and especially for the nine-year-old girl's death. | Few clues to the motives for the attack have emerged. Prison psychologist Christina Pietz has testified that Loughner had expressed remorse for the rampage and especially for the nine-year-old girl's death. |
| Giffords resigned from Congress in January to focus on her recovery. | Giffords resigned from Congress in January to focus on her recovery. |
| Barber served out the rest of her term after winning a special election. Barber ran in Tuesday's election for a newly created congressional district in Arizona and was running neck-and-neck with Republican Martha McSally, with the outcome hanging on 80,000 provisional and early votes that have yet to be tallied. | Barber served out the rest of her term after winning a special election. Barber ran in Tuesday's election for a newly created congressional district in Arizona and was running neck-and-neck with Republican Martha McSally, with the outcome hanging on 80,000 provisional and early votes that have yet to be tallied. |
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