Keith Coffman

DENVER, Colorado (Reuters) – A Colorado judge ruled on Friday that a man who was accused of shooting 10 people at a supermarket in March and killing his wife is too incompetent for trial.

Ingrid Bakke, Boulder County District Judge made her decision during Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa’s hearing. It was revealed that two independent court-ordered psychological assessments had concluded that Alissa is mentally unfit.

Bakke directed Alissa that she be admitted to the mental hospital of the state. Colorado law mandates that criminal defendants deemed incapable of standing trial must be treated.

Alissa has been charged with 10 counts in the first-degree shooting rampage of a King Soopers grocery shop in Boulder Colorado (about 28 miles (45 km northwest) of Denver).

Alissa was carrying a Ruger AR-556 gun that she had legally purchased. She stormed the store and opened fire. One Boulder officer who responded was among the victims. The motive behind the attack has not been identified by authorities.

Alissa had been evaluated by two psychologists before and was deemed incompetent. In October, prosecutors requested Bakke’s permission for a second mental evaluation. Bakke agreed.

To meet the competency standard, a defendant should be capable of understanding and contributing meaningfully to their defense.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty claimed that Alissa’s mental incompetence was confirmed by the second evaluation.

Dougherty said to the judge that they were confident that the patient can recover from his condition with the help of medication and at the state hospital.

Alissa was not able to speak at the hearing as he has been detained without bail since his arrest. Kathryn Herold his attorney stated that Alissa suffers from an unidentified “serious psychological illness”.