Psychiatrists say animal killer had no criminal intent

Nicholas Grech, the man charged with the killing and crucifixion of animals in Mosta, was suffering from schizophrenia and had no criminal intent when he committed the killings, a psychiatrist's report presented in a court of law stated.

The report, tabled by court-appointed psychiatrists Ethel Felice, Peter Muscat and David Cassar, explained how Grech also suffered from impaired judgement and was not in a state to differentiate between right and wrong.

The three psychiatrists said the accused had also stopped taking his medication at the time of the offences being committed.

Grech, a 37-year-old Enemalta engineer, is being charged with the illegal killing of various animals, animal cruelty, violation of burial grounds, trespassing on religious grounds, forcing entry into the Mosta Parish church and l-Isperanza Chapel and vilifying the Catholic religion.

Prosecuting officers Edmond Curmi and Joseph Busuttil and defence counsel Martin Fenech submitted their acceptance of the experts’ report. Furthermore the report suggests that the final decision about the accused’s future is to be decided by a medical board.

In the meantime, the accused has been detained at Mount Carmel Hospital under preventive arrest.

The notorious hangings and mock crucifixions of dog and cat carcasses around Mosta date back to 16 October 2011, with the last case taking place on 3 February 2014. In the last incident, a dog and cat were found hung upside down at the side and on the front of the Mosta Church.