Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury to decide after psychiatrists disagree in insanity trial
Summary
A jury will decide whether Valerijs Leitons, a 25‑year‑old Latvian national, should be found not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility for the murder of Skaidrite Valdgeima, 34, on 26 June 2019. Leitons stabbed Valdgeima at the Binary Hub aparthotel after believing she was an undercover agent. The prosecution, led by Conor Devally SC, argued that Leitons' paranoid schizophrenia, diagnosed by Dr Ronan Mullaney, met all three criteria for an insanity verdict, while the defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC, contended that Dr Damien Smith's assessment showed Leitons did not meet those criteria. The judge explained that the jury could return four verdicts, but the parties were focused on the two options of not guilty by reason of insanity or guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury will deliberate tomorrow.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury to decide after psychiatrists disagree in insanity trial. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity
When:
- 26 June 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 26 Other
- 2021-10-07 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
Case subjects
Accused
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Places mentioned
- St Kevin's Gardens
- Bonham Street
- Dublin
- Dr Smith's view
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Mental Hospital
- St James's Hospital
Topics
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