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.