One witness was skeptical about R. Allen Stanford’s claims of amnesia, while another told a federal judge Tuesday that Stanford isn’t mentally fit to stand trial on charges of defrauding investors, the Houston Chronicle reports. Stanford’s lawyers say he has no memories of events before Sept. 24, 2009, when he was injured in a fight with another jail inmate. Stanford is accused of perpetuating a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, many of the victims of which are in the Baton Rouge area. The hearing that began Tuesday is to determine whether Stanford is competent to stand trial. U.S. District Judge David Hittner says he expects the hearing to last three days. A government witness testified that it would be unusual for a patient to suffer delayed amnesia from a head injury, but a defense witness testified that such retrograde amnesia is consistent with frontal lobe damage Stanford suffered in the altercation. The 61-year-old Stanford, shackled and handcuffed, smiled at his mother and family friends before taking a seat at the hearing. At one point he waved at his 81-year-old mother—whom the judge also ruled will not be required to give testimony. Stanford alternatively leaned forward and sat back as he watched testimony. He has been held without bail as a flight risk since he was arrested on June 18, 2009. Stanford, who headed Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, maintains he is innocent of the 14 charges he faces. Read the full story here.
Today’s poll question: Do you believe R. Allen Stanford’s claims of amnesia?
