Bellante Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity

Saverio Bellante has been found NOT guilty of murder by reason of insanity. 

36 year old Bellante had admitted killing Tom O’Gorman in Castleknock in Dublin last year, but denied his murder.

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Saverio Bellante kept his head bowed as the jury foreman told the court that they had come to a decision, after one hour 36 minutes deliberation.

By unanimous verdict, the 7 men and 5 women found the 36 year old Sicilian not guilty by reason of insanity.

In her direction to the jury before lunch, judge Margaret Heneghan had told the jury that the law requires them to find Mr Bellante not guilty by reason of insanity if he fulfils the criteria under the law, which he did.

Two psychiatrists testified that Mr Bellante was operating under a pscychotic episode when he killed his landlord in January 2014 with a knife and a dumbbell.

Mr Bellante was committed to the Central Mental Hospital, where he’s been since the offence, to return to court again on August 12th.

Judge heneghan also ordered that Mr Bellante be assessed by an appropriate medical officer.