Coriolis
04-21-2005, 06:21 AM
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - A defendant who bared his backside in court and told a judge "I am going to the moon" has been ruled mentally competent for trial.
Cornell Jackson, 31, tried to persuade Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet that he was crazy and not faking mental illness at a hearing Tuesday but to no avail.
"I ain't in my right mind," Jackson insisted. He also told the judge: "I am going to the moon. The spirits are gonna take me to the moon."
Jackson is facing a retrial on charges he beat his girlfriend. He was convicted of armed burglary, aggravated battery and aggravated assault at two trials and was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
He declined to attend the first trial and was removed from the second in July 2003 after shouting "cuckoo" and displaying his bottom to jurors.
The 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee last year reversed the convictions because Jackson never received a formal hearing to determine his mental competency.
No new trial date has been set.
Cornell Jackson, 31, tried to persuade Circuit Judge Michael Overstreet that he was crazy and not faking mental illness at a hearing Tuesday but to no avail.
"I ain't in my right mind," Jackson insisted. He also told the judge: "I am going to the moon. The spirits are gonna take me to the moon."
Jackson is facing a retrial on charges he beat his girlfriend. He was convicted of armed burglary, aggravated battery and aggravated assault at two trials and was sentenced to 33 years in prison.
He declined to attend the first trial and was removed from the second in July 2003 after shouting "cuckoo" and displaying his bottom to jurors.
The 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee last year reversed the convictions because Jackson never received a formal hearing to determine his mental competency.
No new trial date has been set.