The woman, Mary Aguis, had been sick with the flu and was having respiratory problems on the day and her son, Lawrence, was smoking heavily, said the inspector. After she asked him to stop, Mr Agius went into the kitchen, got a knife and attacked her.
He stabbed the old woman in the neck and later also injured his hand with the knife. After both the woman and the accused were sent to hospital for treatment, Mr Agius was held at Mount Carmel Hospital instead of being sent to prison.
The inspector explained that the two were living in very cramped quarters. The residence consisted of two rooms. There was a bed and a mattress on the floor in one of the rooms and the corridor was cluttered with statues and fountains, inspector Micallef told the court.
The elderly woman was bleeding heavily and it seemed as though the accused had tried to wipe away some of the blood on the knife and blood that had splattered on the walls. Inspector Micallef said that after speaking to the accused she came to the conclusion that although he knew what had happened he was not aware that the consequences of his actions could have led to his mother’s death.
Nazzareno Aguis, the accused’s brother, also testified at yesterday’s sitting. He explained that he went downstairs (he lived in the flat above his mother and his brother) after hearing some shouting and found his injured mother.
“My brother is most definitely mentally ill or else he would have never attacked our mother with a knife,” Mr Agius said. He said that his mother had forgiven his brother and added that his brother needs care and cannot be left to fend for himself.
“When I asked him what he had done, Lawrence told me he got confused because he had not taken his medication,” said Mr Aguis. He said his brother also told him that he had heard voices. The witness told the court his brother had been schizophrenic since birth and had been receiving care from Mount Carmel Hospital for the past 16 years.
Presiding magistrate Anthony Vella deferred the case for more evidence to be heard.