The man accused of shooting six people at the Jewish Federation offices in Seattle surprised many — including his own attorney — by trying to plead guilty this morning to the crimes.After a deputy prosecutor read all nine criminal charges to Naveed Haq, the man briefly conferred with his attorney, C. Wesley Richards, who told the judge that Haq wanted to enter guilty pleas.

Richards urged the judge not to accept the pleas until he had more time to go over the evidence and the consequences of a guilty plea with his client. He said he also had some concerns about whether Haq was mentally competent to make such a decision.

King County Superior Court Judge Michael Trickey said that while defendants are allowed to plead guilty at their arraignment, though an unusual move, he was worried about the charge of aggravated murder that Haq faces.

That charge carries the possibility of the death penalty, and King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng has not yet decided whether he will seek a death sentence. It’s unclear what would happen if Haq pleaded guilty before that decision is made.

Trickey delayed Haq’s arraignment until next Tuesday.

Haq, 30, is a college graduate raised in the Tri-Cities. Thirteen days ago, he is accused of forcing his way into the Federation offices in downtown Seattle. After declaring himself a Muslim opposed to the Bush administration’s support of Israel, authorities say he opened fire, killing one woman and wounding five others.

Source: SPI