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9:49 a.m. • 2-11-12

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UNC 'Pit' Suspect Back at Central Prison


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Mohammed Taheri-azar
Mohammed Taheri-azar

A man accused of driving a sport utility vehicle through a popular student courtyard at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is back in jail.

Mohammed Taheri-azar was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation at Dorothea Dix Hospital after an expletive-laced tirade during a court appearance in early March.

Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall said Taheri-azar, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, is now at Central Prison in Raleigh on a $5.5 million bond.

A final report will determine whether he is capable of standing trial.

During the March 5 hearing, Taheri-azar, 23, yelled in court that he "hates all Americans" and "hates all Jews" and called his court-appointed attorney a "moron." He also made obscene gestures while he was being removed from the courtroom.

Authorities said Taheri-azar admitted to driving his vehicle into nine people at "the Pit" on the UNC campus in March 2006. No one was seriously injured. Taheri-azar said he did it to avenge the deaths of Muslims around the world.

Taheri-azar pleaded not guilty in January to nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury. He was scheduled to go to court later in March to begin the pre-trial motions.

RELATED TOPICS: Orange County, UNC-Chapel Hill, Raleigh

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Just whwen you think the death penalty is too severe, a reason to change your mind comes along.

He would be a good candidate for a torture chamber...just for laughs, like the one he had.

This isn't funny. He seems to be trying for the old insanity plea. Thank goodness noone was killed that day but he sure tried. People should remember that. He is a terrorist and should be treated that way. If given the chance he would cut our throats in a minute. He should never have that chance.

Can you say CRAZY?

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