Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman who killed housemate and cut off genitals is found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
Summary
Grace Miano, 53, was charged with the murder of Malawian man Limbani 'Robert' Mzoma, 27, at Tudor Lawns in Foxrock, Co Dublin, on 1 November 2018. She claimed she was possessed by the spirit of Princess Diana and killed Mzoma to "protect Prince William", then cut off his genitals post‑mortem to "protect women". A jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity after less than two and a half hours of deliberation. The judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, explained that the verdict was based on psychiatric evidence that Miano did not know her actions were wrong and was unable to refrain from them, satisfying two of the three criteria under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The State applied for Miano to be examined at a designated centre for 14 days; the judge granted the application and remanded her to appear again on 11 October for a psychiatric report. The judge expressed condolences to Mzoma's family.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman who killed housemate and cut off genitals is found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- November 1, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 11 Adjournment
- November 2, 2018 Other
- 2021-09-30 Publication
Why: He said the accused person has a burden to established that they were insane at time, "in that she did not have the capacity to commit murder, as it is claimed she lacked that capacity because of her illness to have responsibility for those acts". CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; Mr Justice McDermott granted the application and remanded Ms Miano to reappear at the Central Criminal Court on October 11 for the production of a psychiatric report.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- times at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station
- Central Mental Hospital
Topics
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