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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 JUNE 2014 7 News CHRIS MANGION NICHOLAS Grech, the man charged with the killing and cru- cifixion of animals in Mosta, was suffering from schizophrenia and had no criminal intent when he committed the killings, according to a psychiatrists' report presented in court. The report, tabled by court-ap- pointed psychiatrists Ethel Felice, Peter Muscat and David Cassar, explained that Grech also suffered from impaired judgement and was not in a state to differentiate be- tween right and wrong. The three psychiatrists said the accused had also stopped taking his medication at the time when the offences were 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-Isperan- za Chapel and vilifying the Catho- lic religion. Prosecuting officers Edmond Curmi and Joseph Busuttil and de- fence counsel Martin Fenech sub- mitted their acceptance of the ex- perts' report, which also suggests that the final decision about the accused's future is to be decided by a medical board. In the meantime, the accused is being detained at Mount Carmel Hospital under preventive arrest. The hangings and mock cruci- fixions of dog and cat carcasses around Mosta became notorious. They date back to 16 October, 2011, with the last case taking place on 3 February this year. In the last inci- dent, a dog and cat were found hung upside down at the side and on the front of the Mosta church. CHRIS MANGION MAGISTRATE Carol Perlata yes- terday ordered murder attempt victim Vince Muscat to testify at the police headquarters though a medical certificate was exhibited in court yesterday exempting him from taking the stand. The evidence is to be given today. The certificate was exhibited by Muscat's lawyers in the compila- tion of evidence against Jonathan Pace. It was drawn up by an oph- thalmologist, saying the man could not testify in court. But the defence argued that Mus- cat, known as "il-Kohhu", had been released from hospital on 24 May and had already testified at the police HQ in a different case. "He should stop playing games and wasting our time," Giannella de Marco told the court. Pace, from Gudja, is being charged with the attempted murder of 53-year old Muscat. He is also ac- cused of firing a weapon in public, keeping an unlicensed firearm, damaging the victim's Mitsubishi car, threatening Inspector Keith Arnaud and relapsing. The 31-year old former butcher was well known for his shop "Tyson Butcher" in Ze- jtun. At yesterday's sitting, Magistrate Peralta suggested that Muscat tes- tify in his own home, in the pres- ence of the accused and his law- yers. This was strongly objected to by the prosecution and the victim's lawyers. "This would allow the person who tried to kill him to enter the victim's home", the lawyer said. The defence then argued that such a measure would prolong the accused's time in custody. "People who are still presumed to be inno- cent should not be kept in deten- tion", the magistrate said, ruling that Muscat is to give evidence, today, at the police HQ. A court expert, law- yer Maria Karlsson, is to hear the evidence in lieu of the magistrate. The attempt on Muscat's life was made late in the evening of 8 April in Bordin Street, Pieta, where he lives. He was shot while inside his vehicle but managed to drive to the police station, where he was given first aid and rushed to hospital. He told officers he could identify the person who shot him. Doctors certified he had been hit by two rounds in the neck and hand, and that a third grazed him. Anoth- er three shots had missed him. He spent some days in a critical condi- tion. The victim is a co-accused in the attempted murder of two police of- ficers in the failed bank heist on the HSBC main office in Qormi in 2010. Muscat had allegedly fired over 30 shots at the police. He is still out on bail in connection with that case. The hearing was postponed to 1 July, when Muscat's testimony will be read in court. Lawyers Giannella de Marco and Joe Giglio are representing the ac- cused while Dr Arthur Azzopardi and Dr Kathleen Grima are repre- senting the victim. Psychiatrists say animal killer did not have criminal intent Court-appointed psychiatrists report that Nicholas Grech, who stands charged with animal cruelty over the Mosta animal 'crucifixions', did not have criminal intent Medical certificate does not exempt victim from testifying in attempted murder case Future of the accused to be decided by medical board File photo shows Nicholas Grech being escorted into court by police officers

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