Accused was informally baptised in the morning

A few days after a British national damaged a 200-year-old mother-of-pearl crucifix at Valletta's Ta' Giezu church his mother sent a letter to the church asking for forgiveness on his behalf, a friar told a magistrate yesterday.

Fr George Aquilina testified before Magistrate Abigail Lofaro that he was saying Mass on March 31 when, Krishanu Bhattacharjee unexpectedly walked onto the altar and pushed over the crucifix and two candlesticks because, he later explained, "Your God is a God of violence".

"It was immediately clear that the man suffered from some mental health problem... A few days later, on April 4, I received a letter from his mother asking for forgiveness about what he had done. I replied to her and told her that, as Franciscans, we preach compassion...," Fr Aquilina said.

He took the stand in the compilation of evidence against Mr Bhattacharjee who is pleading not guilty to damaging the crucifix, which is part of cultural heritage.

Fr Aquilina said he was saying the 6.15 p.m. Mass when some 15 minutes into the ceremony he noticed somebody walk down the aisle. He did not think much of the man's actions as it was usual for people to walk through the aisle.

About five minutes later, during the homily, people began to call the friar by name. They shouted for attention as a man had toppled the crucifix that was on the altar behind the friar. Fr Aquilina then turned to look at the man and saw him push two candlesticks.

People who had been in the sacristy ran out, stopped the man and restrained him.

That was when Fr Aquilina asked him why he had done what he did. To this he replied: "Your god is a god of violence". To Fr Aquilina it was clear Mr Bhattacharjee had a mental health problem. As he was walking out of the court room, the witness affectionately tapped Mr Bhattacharjee on the shoulder. Police Inspectors Alfred Mallia and Joseph Mercieca, prosecuting, were next on the witness stand. They told the court that when the police arrived at the church they found that Mr Bhattacharjee had already been restrained.

Inspector Mallia said Mr Bhattacharjee was first taken to the Floriana Health Centre where he was diagnosed as "unstable and suffering from a mental disorder". He was then taken to Mount Carmel Hospital.

Inspector Mercieca testified that Mr Bhattacharjee had released a statement in which he admitted toppling the crucifix and the candlesticks.

"The incident started that same morning when he went to the same church and asked to be baptised. There a friar did so in an informal manner," the inspector said.

"Later that afternoon he was walking about in the area and happened to enter the same church... He walked up to the main altar, climbed up the stairs and pushed over the crucifix and candlesticks.

"He said he did that because he felt iconoclastic... He said he had to do what he did. He felt he was the anti-Christ."

Mr Bhattacharjee also told the inspector he was sorry for his actions and wanted to reimburse the friars for the damage.

Lawyer Vincent Galea represented the accused.