Court annuls jury decision on state of mind of murder suspect

A court of appeal this morning declared null a decision taken by a jury in May which found a man fit to stand trial for the murder of his wife, who was stabbed in a hospital bed in September 2005.

Anthony Schembri, 62, in his appeal, had argued, among other things, that the jurors had unjustifiably ignored the conclusion reached by three psychiatrists who certified that Mr Schembri was not of sound mind when he allegedly stabbed Doris Schembri at St Luke's Hospital. He also insisted that the defence had proven its case to the level required by law and that comments by the prosecution may have led to speculation by the prosecution.

The appeals court found that there were irregularities during the May hearing in that comments passed by the prosecution may have led to speculation by the jurors about a previous case, and Mr Schembri’s mental state.