Saverio Bellante found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity

The jury in the trial of an Italian man who has admitted killing his landlord in Castleknock last year have found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

Saverio Bellante (36) with an address at Beech Park Avenue, Castleknock, Dublin 15 was charged with murdering Thomas O'Gorman at an unknown time between January 11 2014 and January 12 2014 at the above address.

Last Monday at the Central Criminal Court Mr Bellante pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr O'Gorman.

The jury of seven men and five women spent one hour and 36 minutes deliberating today before bringing in a verdict of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

Before returning their verdict the foreman of the jury asked the presiding judge Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan if they could express an opinion on their verdict which she said no to saying: "A jury cannot express an opinion on a verdict."

Upon delivering the verdict the judge thanked the twelve jurors for their time in this "difficult case" and excused them from jury service for the next fifteen years.

"The work juries do in these Criminal Court's is hugely important work but difficult work and we appreciate the work you do and this was a particular difficult case," she said.

Ms Justice Heneghan committed Mr Bellante to the Central Mental Hospital and put in the matter for August 12 2015 at 11am when Dr Mohan would be present.

Yesterday the jury heard that the Italian man admitted killing his landlord in Castleknock last year and told gardai in an interview that he ate what he believed to be a part of the deceased's heart.

Also on Thursday two consultant psychiatrists told the trial jury that Mr Bellante fulfilled the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.