Nothing crazy about her - highly dangerous - yes!
NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) - A Pakistani woman charged with trying to kill American interrogators in Afghanistan is fit to stand trial, a U.S. judge ruled on Wednesday after months of examination of her mental state.
The U.S. government says Aafia Siddiqui, 37, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist, had links to al Qaeda.
"The Court finds that Dr Siddiqui is competent to stand trial by a preponderance of the evidence," U.S. District Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan federal court said in a written order.
"Dr Siddiqui has sufficient present ability to consult with her lawyers with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and she also has a rational as well as a factual understanding of the proceedings against her."
Prosecutors say Siddiqui grabbed a U.S. warrant officer's rifle in mid-2008 while she was detained for questioning in Afghanistan and fired it at the interrogation team, which included two FBI agents, but no one was hit. The warrant officer then shot and wounded her with his pistol.
Siddiqui was transferred to the United States and charged with attempted murder and assault of U.S. soldiers. She has pleaded not guilty. No one has been able to verify her whereabouts for the five years before her arrest.
At a hearing this month Siddiqui, wearing a white hijab covering all but her eyes, interrupted a doctor's testimony to say, "Please take me seriously, I am not psychotic."
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