Courts / Meath / Report

Ivory Coast native found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Lateef Bello, a 42‑year‑old man from Clonee who was originally from the Ivory Coast, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for attempting to murder Adejoke Opesusi. Bello, who had lived in Ireland for nine years, claimed he believed his wife was having an affair and that Opesusi had convinced her to do so. On 19 February 2012, after returning from work as a taxi driver, Bello entered Opesusi's home at 4.30 am, stabbed her repeatedly with two knives and tried to choke her. He fled through a first‑floor bedroom window but was soon apprehended by Gardaí. Prior to the incident, he had threatened his wife Elizabeth that he would stab himself. After a two‑month stay at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Ivory Coast native found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi at Littleplace by reason of insanity more than two years ago. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

• February 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-01-28 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report