A magistrate is expected to decide next week whether the man charged over the gruesome Mosta animal crucifixions is mentally fit to undergo criminal proceedings.
Nicholas Grech, a 37-year-old engineer from Mosta, who is under psychiatric care, is pleading not guilty to animal cruelty and killing domesticated animals between October 2011 and last February 3.
He is also charged with violating a grave within the ossuary of the Mosta parish church, insulting the Catholic religion and entering the church and crypt of the chapel known as L-Isperanza illegally.
Mr Grech was arraigned on March 20 and is being kept at Mount Carmel Hospital.
As he usually does, Mr Grech yesterday sat in the dock with a bowed head and clasped hands.
Court-appointed expert and psychiatrist George Debono presented a report on Mr Grech’s condition noting that he had suffered a relapse of mental health issues that he had experienced in the past.
He was meant to be taking medication but did not at the time the crimes he was charged with were committed.
Although he did distinguish between right and wrong, when weighing up the consequences he decided to go ahead to feel better, Dr Debono said.
After evaluating the report, Magistrate Carol Peralta will decide whether the accused is mentally fit to undergo criminal proceedings.
In a press conference before Mr Grech was arraigned, Deputy Police Commissioner Ray Zammit had said the motive behind the crucifixions was probably media coverage to boost the perpetrator’s morale.
The police have not ruled out the possibility that someone else was also involved in the killings.
The first case of animal cruelty dates back to October 2011 when a puppy was discovered nailed upside down to a wooden cross. Since then, there have been 10 other cases of crucified animals in Mosta, mainly cats hanging from religious statues or churches, with the last one found on a lamp post at the Rotunda. At least four notes were found in the carcasses, between the muscle and the skin.
Times of Malta reported on February 8 that the author of all four notes drew on circumstances bringing to mind the case of Franġisku Buhagiar, 83, who had shot dead his sister on February 16, 1999, following an argument over burnt toast and a torn jersey. He was jailed for 10 years. The house where the first puppy was found was the crime scene.
When asked about the connection between Mr Grech and Mr Buhagiar, Mr Zammit had noted that both men were from Mosta and knew each other. He said there were indications that some notes “could be related” to Mr Buhagiar.