HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Allen Stanford is not competent to prepare for his criminal trial because he suffers from depression and is addicted to a powerful anti-anxiety drug that has left him mentally foggy, psychiatrists told a U.S. judge yesterday.
“In my opinion … he’s unable to work effectively with his attorney to develop a defense against the charges,” Victor Scarano, a psychiatrist testifying for the defense, told a hearing before U.S. District Judge David Hittner.
In previous court documents, Stanford’s attorneys have argued that he was not mentally fit to prepare for a criminal trial because of the medications he has been prescribed since being put in prison in June 2009.
The hearing in federal court in Houston is being held to determine whether Stanford is competent and whether his scheduled Jan. 24 trial date should be postponed.
