A homeless Malian man who was shot by the police as he allegedly ran at them with a knife was “actively psychotic”, a court heard yesterday.

Souleymane Samake, 26, is receiving treatment for mental illness at the Forensic Unit of Mount Carmel Hospital as he faces attempted murder charges.

He is pleading not guilty to trying to kill three constables and “living an idle and vagrant life” after finding refuge in a cave last March.

He had been admitted to the psychiatric hospital several times since arriving in Malta in 2008.

On March 30, the police had received reports about someone living in a cave and on investigating they found the accused near the caves of Għar Ħasan, in the limits of Birżebbuġa.

The police reported that he charged towards them but pepper spray had little effect and one officer fired two warning shots. When even this failed to deter him, four more shots were fired and two hit the accused in the thigh and stomach.

Psychiatrist Etienne Muscat said that he had examined Mr Samake on April 4 and 5 and he had been suffering from hallucinations. He believed there was a battle between evil and good raging through a conversation he was having with himself.

Dr Joseph Spiteri, from Mount Carmel Hospital, said Mr Samake was currently under his care at the forensic unit.

He said the accused was suffering from psychosis and his personal hygiene was lacking. However, he did take his medication regularly and that was all he could say because he did not have the consent of the accused to say anything further.

He added that he could barely communicate with his patient in court because of the absence of an interpreter.

Magistrate Edwina Grima ordered a court appointed translator to help the doctor.