A mental health professional has told a court that the Somali man allegedly abducted and beaten up by police officers in a racially motivated attack last month, had long-standing psychotic tendencies.
The compilation of evidence against Rica Mifsud Grech, 22, from Floriana, and Jurgen Falzon, 24, from Santa Venera, and Luca Brincat, 20, from Qormi, continued before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning.
The three officers, all of whom were stationed at the Hamrun police station, are pleading not guilty to charges of kidnapping, abuse of authority, illegal arrest, holding a person against his will, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm and two counts of causing slight injury, the bodily harm charges being aggravated by racial motives.
Brincat was also accused of abusing his authority, causing a person to fear violence, as well as carrying arms proper and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Testifying, Dr. Claire Axiak from the Floriana Mental Health Clinic said the Somali victim had been treated at Mount Carmel Hospital for a long period of time and was later sent to prison.
"He's a person with an antisocial personality, whose behaviour can be very challenging and who makes threats. He doesn't obey the rules and has a tendency to escalate situations, especially after taking alcohol, cocaine and cannabis," the doctor said.
The victim had last been admitted to Mt Carmel on 15 September. "When the police brought him in, he was wearing a coat in which a bottle of alcohol...
As he said he would on Sunday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation case against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick this morning over a story that characterizes him as an inc...