Court warns psychiatrists

A magistrate yesterday threatened to take action against three psychiatrists who, more than two months from their appointment by the court, have still to examine a deaf man accused of carrying out several hold-ups.

Magistrate Anthony Vella issued the warning in the compilation of evidence against the 51-year-old Żebbuġ man, who cannot be named by court order and who is aided by a sign language interpreter during sittings.

The man is facing 16 charges and has pleaded not guilty to stealing cash, holding people against their will and being in possession of a weapon during robberies he carried out in two pharmacies, a green grocer, an underwear shop and a hairdresser between December 18 and January 14, all in Żebbuġ.

He also pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring 31-year-old hairdresser Patrizio Parascandalo, who was hailed a hero and dubbed Batman after he caught the accused shortly after the hold-up in his establishment.

The magistrate noted that the psychiatrists – Anton Grech, Peter Muscat and Ethel Felice – had not yet examined the accused and warned that, if they did not see him immediately, he was reserving the right to take action against them.

Police Inspector Anthony Portelli, prosecuting, asked the court to appoint more experts to examine a plastic toy gun used during the hold-up on Mr Parascandalo. Saying “I’m not an expert in toys”, he said the gun was broken and the fragments needed to be matched.

He also asked that another expert should examine and, if possible extract, DNA samples from the balaclava allegedly worn by the accused during the same hold-up. He asked for a star-shaped tattoo on the hand of the accused to be documented. Magistrate Vella has still to decide on the requests.

The accused, a resident of Mount Carmel Hospital, was on leave, when the alleged crimes took place. He was until yesterday being held at the hospital’s forensic unit under the jurisdiction of the prison director and has now been moved to another ward and restricted from leaving.

Police Inspector Anthony Cachia also prosecuted.Lawyers Gabrielle Zammit and Daniela Mangion were defence counsel.