In Montpellier, the voice of the “Joker” pushed him to try to kill police officers: the question of madness under debate

"I am a terrorist, I am not afraid of death"

An altercation ensues and a gunshot in the air ends up deterring the attacker who flees. Aged 21, he was found at his mother's house: "My son is not feeling well"  she then said.

Six expert psychiatrists were able to examine him and they are unanimous: suffering from schizophrenia, his discernment is abolished, he is not capable of being tried for attempted murder. After a month and a half of hospitalization, he returned home. And a little less than four years later, this Thursday, April 25, the investigating chamber of the court of ;rsquo;Montpellier appeal devoted its hearing to ratifying this criminal irresponsibility.

During a mock trial where the accused was absent: stunned by the pills, he was bedridden and had, once again, to be hospitalized automatically for his illness, during the day. Madness was therefore at the heart of the debates.

Since he was little, he has heard voices

Not to discuss it. The investigation showed that since he was very young, he heard voices, an imaginary friend at 6 years old, then a voice as a teenager, with progressive hallucinations, a delusion of persecution and drug treatment which stabilized him. .

But on September 30, 2020, his mother forgot the lunch treatment, and her son, who, in addition, smoked cannabis, " heard a voice say "I am the Joker", and told him to attack the police officers" reported President Corinne Desjardins.

No, the question revolved around his future since the prison case is in fact ruled out by his irresponsibility and following the Court's decision (*), the judicial review which has ruled against him frame will disappear. He cannot be sentenced to hospital for life either.

And, in the background, the debates highlighted the worrying state of disrepair of psychiatry which lacks resources and the doctors were moved (read below).

"The family is going through hell and has hidden all the knives"

Is he dangerous? Yes but only if he does not take his treatment, the experts reminded. Even if full hospitalization is ordered, the medical profession will release him after a few weeks when his condition has been stabilized by medication. He will then return home.

"For four years, this family has been caring for a child they love, but they are going through hell, they have hidden all the knives’ quot; recalled Me Luc Abratkiewicz, the defendant’s lawyer.

The mother is looking for a private specialized establishment, "but they were told that it was five years old ;waiting", continues the lawyer, and at the hospital, they were told "that this n’ was not the hotel.

He has already had around ten compulsory hospitalizations, "but we never know when he will be released" sighed the mother. Everyone also agreed that we had to trust this family and recalled that for four years, he has been free and there has been no new incident.< /p>

"We are not safe from a new delirious burst"

"We are not safe from a new burst of delusion and justice will have to answer for that, let's order full hospitalization, it's the hospital that will be responsible and the prefect will take his responsibilities" asked the general advocate.

(*) Decision on May 30.

“Psychiatry is in great difficulty”

Not enough doctors, not enough beds for patients in public hospitals and places in private hospitals. that we almost only obtain by “piston” or after years of waiting…

It’s a dark picture that is paintedé of psychiatry in France. "When a patient has a major decompensation problem and we need to hospitalize him, we scramble to find out who is going to leave & ;agrave; its place and the situation is the same à Toulouse, Marseille or Montpellier" tétestimonyé Doctor Franck, expert who examined the the accused.

As a result, with the lack of resources, hospitalizations are shortened. The young individual, after having attempted to to kill police officers in September 2020 à Montpellier, was é intern&eac; only 40 days.

"It’is very short", notes Doctor Dassa, another expert. "10, 20 or 30 years ago, patients were kept for months or years, today we does not have a psychiatric bed! We are in great difficulty; à Montpellier as &agrav; Marseille."

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