Neurologist confirms murder convict ‘not psychotic’

Giving evidence before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, consultant neurologist Norbert Vella said that from his findings on inmate David Norbert Schembri  who is serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of his former partner Josette Scicluna in 2004, "there was no evidence of any psychotic symptoms."

Vella  was appointed as a court expert to examine Schembri after his lawyer Joe Cassar raised a question as to whether his client suffered from an anacroid cyst, which are cerebrospinal fluid-filled sacs that are located between the brain or spinal cord and the arachnoid membrane, one of the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. 

Cassar said that a recent study suggested that Portughese researchers discovered that the presence of an anacroid cyst could contribute to psychotic behaviour.

He raised the point in defence of his client who is charged with blinding a fellow inmate with a make-shift weapon he managed to conceal from prison warders.

The incident happened last year when Schembri was being transferred to court and the other inmate was preparing to leave jail after serving his sentence.

Schembri allegedly slashed the other inmate's face, blinding him from his right eye.

In his evidence, the neurologist explained that there were no significant changes in Schembri since his last two MRI scans which were done on 2007 and 2009.

He shot down the suggestion that an anacroid cyst could lead a patient to sudden violent acts.

"Violent would be gradual and certainly not focused on a specific person or object," Vella said.

Only yesterday, David Norbert Schembri faced another Magistrate, where he was charged with charged with setting his cell on fire and threatening prison warders.

The incident happened last April when warders noticed smoke from Schembri's cell, and discovered his mattress and other items on fire.

While Schembri was evacuated from the cell and placed in solitary confinement, where he allegedly threatened two warders that what they had witnessed the day before was "just the beginning" and promised them that the "worst was yet to come."

An infuriated Schembri told warder David Abela to tell his colleague Godwin Agius to be cautious as "he had matters to settle" with him for tearing up his shorts and shoes.

Inspector Spiridione Zammit who investigated the incident, told the court that he went to Corradino Prisons to speak to Schembri.

"I found him to be very sarcastic in his replies to my questions, and then refused to continue talking to me," Inspector Zammit said, adding however, that Schembri stood up angrily and had to be restrained by Special Response Team (SRT) personnel.

Warder Godwin Agius testified that during a search inside David Schembri's cell after it was burnt down, he found a container with human excrement inside, which - according to Schembri when asked about it - was to be thrown at warders.  

The warder said that they also found another container, this time with sperm, which Schembri had said he wanted to add acid to it and also throw it at a warder.

According to Agius, the inmate had told him that he would never hurt himself, but should he want to hurt somebody, that would be a warder.