Sinaloa Narco ’El Chapo’ to See Shrink As His Memory Fails in Freezing Jail Cell Josh Saul - Newsweek
go to original November 8, 2017

Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City (Reuters)

A Brooklyn federal court judge will allow the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo to see a psychologist because his mental health has deteriorated over the 10 months he has been behind bars in a New York City jail.

“The only contact he has is with his defense team. His memory is failing,” defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo said outside Brooklyn federal court Wednesday. “I don’t want it to get to point where he is declining in capacity or unable to assist in his own defense.”

Ongoing admissions about the 60-year-old’s mental health by his defense attorneys this year mark a dramatic fall for a man who prosecutors say was once one of the world’s biggest drug trafficker. Balarezo said that Joaquin Guzman’s mental health is suffering because he lives in solitary confinement in a freezing cell with no running water and dirty sheets. His only regular human contact is with his defense attorneys.

Guzman’s defense team says he could be found incompetent to stand trial, which is scheduled for April, if his mental condition continues to deteriorate. “At this time, counsel does not allege that Mr. Guzmán is not competent,” the filing states. “Rather, counsel suggests that Mr. Guzman’s condition may eventually result in a finding of incompetence if it is not addressed soon.”

The filing also said Guzman suffers from auditory hallucinations and depression, and has begun to repeat himself and forget what the conversation he’s having is about. “It is plain to the defense team that something is not right with Mr. Guzman,” it states.

... Guzman's wife and two young daughters were in court Wednesday and he waved to them as he was led out of court and back to his cell.

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