The Defendant, a man with no previous convictions, was arrested and charged after being seen waving a large kitchen knife around and making threats outside his home.
At trial at Southwark Crown Court, the jury heard evidence from psychiatric experts for the Defence and Prosecution. It was accepted that the Defendant was suffering from a relapse in a long-standing mental illness, however the experts disagreed as to whether he “knew what he was doing” at the time of the offence. The Defence were required to prove this.
In addition to careful cross-examination of the Prosecution expert, Tetevi played 999 calls from members of the public who described the Defendant as looking very unwell. He also adduced evidence from medical professionals who had examined him around the time of his arrest and explored the custody record, which showed that he had made strange outbursts and requests for medication shortly after his arrest.
After approximately an hour of deliberations, the jury returned a unanimous special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Tetevi was instructed by Yusuf Bismillah of Tuckers solicitors.
