BRIEF: Terrorism trial delayed for mental health evaluation

June 23--A federal judge on Tuesday delayed a suburban man's trial in an alleged terrorism bomb plot so he can undergo a mental health evaluation after he spoke out at a Tuesday court hearing, telling the judge he would plead guilty to anything as long as "you all admit you're part of the Illuminati and you arrested me because I'm Muslim."

"I'm not crazy," Adel Daoud said as family members in the courtroom lowered their heads and began crying. "I've seen a psychologist and I'm not crazy."

Daoud had been cautioned not to speak by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman and his attorney, Thomas Anthony Durkin, but spoke out anyway.

Durkin had asked for a delay in Daoud's scheduled July 27 trial even before he spoke, saying an incident last month with another inmate at the Metropolitan Correctional Center had raised concerns about Daoud's mental competency.

The judge agreed, saying she had seen a difference "in the affect of the defendant." She rescheduled the trial for Sept. 30 and ordered a mental evaluation.

"We need to make sure he's OK," Durkin said later outside court. "He's been under considerable pressure. I think the comments speak for themselves."

sschmadeke@tribpub.com

___

(c)2015 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.