Frenchman on hunger strike had "a good breakfast", court hears
Court proceedings on the appeal by the Frenchman being held at Mount Carmel Hospital not to be extradited had to suspended this morning on the request of the Chief Justice until the man, Alaine Schmitt, was medically examined.
Yesterday, the Frenchman’s lawyer Emmy Bezzina said that his client started a hunger strike at 9 a.m.
During appeal proceedings this morning, Dr Bezzina claimed that Mr Schmitt had entered into the second day of his hunger strike.
But consultant psychiatrist Joseph Spiteri said that Mr Schmitt had had a good breakfast this morning and chocolate bars were found in his cell.
Mr Schmitt arrived in court on a wheelchair, looking pale, and with intravenous drip. He was accompanied by a nurse.
Chief Justice Vincent de Gaetano asked for the proceedings to be suspended until Mr Schmitt was examined to ensure that he was fit to go through them.
Dr Spiteri said that Mr Schmitt was suffering from a fictitious disorder, which was a psychiatric syndrome the result of excessive stress.
However, he said, Mr Schmitt was lucid and understood what was going on.
Mr Schmitt and his partner Laurence Liegeois are in detention pending the outcome of an appeal from a court decision authorising their extradition to France.
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Joe.Charlie Mizzi
Feb 20th 2010, 21:01
With due respect Brucie from Canberra, i too live used to live in Oz/Sydney, not all the British are called Pommies, its only the famous colonials mainly the English Whingers, but as for the Italians according to my word book the known slang is Wops! and the Maltese Wogs as in Golly Wogs, not a nice word i know but then again in Ozzi anything goes and its all taken lightly in a bit of fun, and as for the Germans or Jerries they are as far as i know called little Hitlers and the Dutch are known as tulip munchers cause thats what they used to eat during the war when food was short, and as for the multi cultural nationalities, the Frogs as per the above article there are hundreds more slangs, but then again people emmigrating to Australia must take this sort of day to day slang thrown at them in their stride and take it with a pinch of salt, thats the ozzi humour for you, otherwise we all live in harmony andhappily ever after. Amen. G'day Mate. Joe Mizzi Black Town
Bruce Balzan
Feb 20th 2010, 17:02
Fast or maybe he prefered frog's legs instead for breakfast. hence nick named the french Froggies, the British pommies, the italians and the maltese wogs. the dutch cheese'eds and the germans square'eds ... either way who cares.... one can search for all these slangs in the ozzi dictionary. BrucieDBarbarian Canberra.
D.Galea
Feb 19th 2010, 23:15
Perhaps everyone misunderstood. Perhaps Mr.Schmitt just decided to fast, it's Lent after all.
M. Avellino
Feb 19th 2010, 18:39
I have been on a hunger strike since 13:00. Now that the strike is over I can go and eat. Phew thank God I can still eat!!! :)
mario bezzina
Feb 19th 2010, 18:20
time wasting for the court, hefty bills for the client,and a laughing lawyer at the end of the stick.
victor pulis
Feb 19th 2010, 16:21
In order to verify whether Mr. Schmitt had breakfast or not all they had to do was ask the nurses at MCH to see if he was given any food and whether the food was left untouched or not. Simple.
r pace bonello
Feb 19th 2010, 14:29
How long are we going to allow this farce to go on?
Ramon Casha
Feb 19th 2010, 13:47
So the hunger strike was from after breakfast to before lunchtime?