Judge rules Indiana surgeon arrested on Italian mountain mentally competent for fraud trial
By APWednesday, April 28, 2010
Judge determines Ind. surgeon competent for trial
HAMMOND, Ind. — A federal magistrate says a former surgeon who was arrested in Italy after five years on the run and extradited to Indiana to face health care fraud charges is mentally competent to stand trial.
Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry on Wednesday denied a prosecutor’s motion to have 46-year-old Mark Weinberger’s mental state reviewed.
Weinberger said he understood the charges and could assist in his own defense.
Authorities say Weinberger stabbed himself in the neck when he was arrested on an Italian mountainside in December.
U.S. attorney’s office spokeswoman Mary Hatton says he would not say whether he was under treatment for any mental conditions, but acknowledged he was taking an antidepressant.
His defense attorney didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
Eds: APNewsNow. CORRECTS to years in lede.
