SUSAN SMITH FOUND COMPETENT

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Taking the recommendation of the state's chief psychiatrist, Dr. Donald Morgan, South Carolina Circuit Judge William Howard ruled thatSusan Smith is mentally able to stand trial. A subdued Smith quietly told the judge during a hearing today that she understood that she is charged with murder and faces the death penalty if convicted. Her attorney, David Bruck, had argued that his client was suicidal and if called to testify might ask the jury to give her the death penalty. Dr. Morgan found Smith to be suicidal, butsaid she was saneand able to understand the proceedings. After the hearing, Bruck said he had no problem trying to save the life of a client who wanted to die. "When you see someone on the edge of a building, you don't let them jump."