Jury rejects insanity plea

Jurors yesterday returned a verdict declaring a man accused of stabbing a brother and sister who lived next door not insane at the time of the commission of the crime.

The nine jurors returned verdicts of not insane for each of the five chapters of the bill of indictment filed against Silvio Mangion, 37, of Zejtun.

Mangion was pleading not guilty, by reason of insanity at the time of the commission of the crime, to the wilful homicide of Francesco Saverio Cassar, 75, and the attempted murder of his sister Giuseppa in Zejtun on August 16, 1998, at about 4 p.m.

He is also charged with trying to rob the Cassars of cash and valuables, carrying a knife at the time of the commission of the crime and without a licence.

The bill of indictment drafted by the prosecution claims that Mangion had tried to burgle his neighbours' house but had been seen by Giuseppa Cassar although she had not realised that Mangion was meaning to rob them.

Mangion, who was unemployed at the time, did not give up on his plan but decided he would have to kill the Cassars so that no one would recognise him.

On August 16, 1998, at about 4 p.m. Mangion swallowed pills and drank whisky to pluck up his courage, rang the Cassars' doorbell and surprised Giuseppa Cassar with the knife when she opened the door and stabbed her in the stomach and in her right arm.

But she fought back and called her brother for help. Mangion turned on him and stabbed him in the chest. Francesco Saverio Cassar did not survive.

When Mangion saw the Cassars bleeding on the ground and his T-shirt covered in blood he became frightened and ran away.

He threw his top and knife into a reservoir in President Anton Buttigieg Street.

The case continues.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara and Dr Michela Spiteri prosecuted.

Dr Jason Azzopardi appeared for the defendant.