Kidnap accused fit for trial

Photo / Filephoto

A California judge yesterday ruled that a man accused of kidnapping and holding a girl captive for 18 years is competent to stand trial.

Lawyers for Phillip Garrido had argued that he was not competent to stand trial along with his wife on 18 counts each of kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment.

Garrido, a convicted rapist, and his wife, Nancy, are accused of abducting Jaycee Dugard from a South Lake Tahoe bus stop in 1991 when she was 11.

Nancy Garrido has pleaded not guilty to the charges.