US judge rules Aussie teen fit for murder trial

News Type: Event — Seeded on Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:57 AM EDT

Article Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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A US judge has ruled an Australian teenager was mentally competent to stand trial for the attempted murder of an elderly hospital patient.

The bizarre nature of the case involving Melbourne-born Joshua Drougas made news around the world when he was arrested on February 18.

US police alleged Drougas walked in to the Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital, located south of Los Angeles, and attempted to smother a 91-year-old patient with a pillow.

Drougas and the patient, American World War II veteran Ted Mastos, had never met before.

The 19-year-old looked healthier when he appeared before Judge Gary Paer in California's Superior Court in Santa Ana today than in previous court dates.