Two psychiatrists have told the murder trial of Saverio Bellante that he fulfills the criteria of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The 36 year old Italian admitted killing Tom O'Gorman with a dumbbell, after which he ate part of what he thought was his heart, in the home they shared in Castleknock in January of last year.
Witness for the DPP, Dr Stephen Monks, said Saverio Bellante was suffering from schizophrenia, and in the grips of acute psychosis, at the time he killed Tom O’Gorman, in January 2014.
While Dr Conor O’Neill, on behalf of the defence, said that Mr Bellante did not know what he was doing was wrong because he believed Mr O’Gorman was the devil.
He added that Mr Bellante was so mentally unwell after he was arrested that he had to be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital, where he remains today.
Earlier, the court was told that Mr. Bellante stopped taking anti-psychotic medication three days before killing Tom O'Gorman.
The jury has been told that the only question they have to consider is whether insanity was a factor.
The trial will resume tomorrow.
