Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused qualifies for insanity verdict, psychiatrist tells trial

Date
2021-10-06

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin murder trial, Dr Ronan Mullaney, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, was suffering from acute paranoid schizophrenia at the time he stabbed Skaidrite Valdgeima, a 34‑year‑old married woman, to death on 26 June 2019. Mullaney argued that Leitons' delusions—believing Valdgeima was an undercover intelligence agent sent to poison him—made him not understand the nature or wrongness of his actions, thereby qualifying for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. He contrasted his view with that of Dr Damian Smith, who had previously stated that Leitons' condition did not meet the threshold for such a verdict. Leitons has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and the jury will decide whether his mental disorder suffices for that defence or whether a manslaughter conviction with diminished responsibility is appropriate.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused qualifies for insanity verdict, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering Skaidrite Valdgeima (34) on 26 June 2019 at the Binary Hub aparthotel on Bonham Street, Dublin 8. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

February 2018 Incident
February 2019 Incident
26 June 2019 Other
May 2019 Incident
April 2018 Other
July 2019 Other
July 26 2019 Other
2021-10-06 Publication

Why: To meet the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the jury must find that Mr Leitons was suffering from a mental disorder such that he should not be held responsible for the killing because he did not know the nature and quality of his actions, or he did not know what he was doing was morally wrong, or was unable to refrain from committing the act. CNI source report