The Luxembourg City court continued to grapple with questions of criminal responsibility and mental illness on Wednesday during the ongoing trial of a man accused of a gruesome 2022 murder in Bonnevoie.
The trial of a 47-year-old man diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia continued on Wednesday, with the defendant facing charges of killing a woman in Bonnevoie in 2022 and later dismembering her body.
On the first day of the trial, the accused claimed he had killed Lucifer. During Wednesday's proceedings, he elaborated to the judge, stating that he acts in accordance with instructions from God, whom he referred to as the "Holy Father." When questioned about why he dismembered the victim's body, the man explained that God had warned him Lucifer could still attack him even after death.
The judge sought to determine whether the victim had provoked or acted against the accused prior to the incident. The defendant responded that the woman had knocked six times on his bedroom door, which he interpreted as "the number of the devil." He stated that the "Holy Father" had then revealed to him that the woman was Lucifer. When asked if he was aware of his mental illness, the man replied that this was what others believed, though he did not personally identify as ill. He struggled to explain why he took prescribed medication if he did not consider himself unwell.
"What happens to me is not important. The important thing is that I have freed 50 million people in heaven," the defendant told the court, referring to his actions.
Throughout the trial, the court attempted to place the accused's statements into a logical framework and address apparent contradictions. However, the man stated that he could not recall a single day without discussing God and demons. This account was corroborated by an employee of the Mental Hygiene League, who had assisted the defendant in securing a place in a therapeutic workshop.
Accused maintains he is on "sacred mission"
The defendant elaborated on what he described as his sacred mission, stating that he must kill "Baphomet, Shakira, the Pope, and the President of North Korea." During the hearing, he was questioned about why he had stopped taking his prescribed medication. The accused explained that he ceased taking the pills because he felt fine, adding that he remains the same person with or without them.
The lawyer representing the victim's family pressed the accused on whether he recognised the risk of losing control without medication. The man responded that he had never lost control, asserting instead that he acted solely on the instructions of the "Holy Father." At this point, the judge interjected, remarking, "I don't think we'll make any progress with logical questions."
In his plea, the civil party's lawyer highlighted what he described as a failure by professionals to fulfil their critical role in managing the accused's condition. However, he noted that the trial would not provide clarity on this matter.
Victims' lawyer: Accused remains criminally liable
The victims' lawyer argued that the accused must be held accountable for his actions, despite the fact that he was clearly suffering from delusions at the time of the crime. The lawyer pointed to the fact that the man had made a conscious decision to stop taking his medication, even though he knew he was supposed to continue. According to the lawyer, this deliberate choice introduces doubt regarding the applicability of Article 71 of the Penal Code. This article exempts individuals from criminal liability if they were deemed incapable of understanding or controlling their actions at the time of the offence. The lawyer emphasised that there can be no ambiguity when absolving someone of criminal responsibility. In this case, the accused's decision to discontinue his treatment constitutes sufficient grounds for doubt, according to the lawyer.
The victim's parents expressed concern that if the accused is declared not criminally liable, he could one day be released if a psychiatrist deems him stable. They, along with the victim's sister, are seeking €70,000 in damages.
The lawyer representing the accused's flatmate, who was also attacked and severely injured, echoed similar arguments. He described the profound trauma endured by his client, stating, "He has to fight to regain a sense of normalcy in his life and feels guilty for surviving, unlike the other victim." The flatmate is seeking €105,000 in compensation for the harm suffered.
