Hague: Stanišić on verge of mental breakdown

Jovica Stanisic’s current mental state is “at a very low point and he couldn’t sink any deeper.“ According to Dutch psychiatrist Joseph DeMann, the former chief of the Serbian state security service and Hague accused is suffering from depression with elements of psychosis. Hague: Stanisic on verge of mental breakdown DeMann examined Stanisic in the detention unit hospital late last month and diagnosed him as suffering from “severe depression with elements of psychosis“ that has rendered him unfit to attend court proceedings for the next 3 to 6 months. The doctor today took questions from the prosecution, defense and judges, explaining what had led him to conclude that Stanisic was not fit to stand trial. The psychiatrists that had examined Stanisic previously did not find any elements of psychosis in his depression. DeMann, however, explained that the defendant’s condition had “deteriorated significantly“ in the meantime. Stanisic has “nightmares“ and “visions of scary creatures“ that “threaten him.“ According to prosecutor John Docherty, the hallucinations could be provoked by the antidepressant Miozepam that he has been prescribed. The prosecutor stated that “it is in the interest of the accused to appear sicker than he actually is.“ He added, nonetheless, that Stanisic’s mental state could have deteriorated after the kidney pains and morphine he was given 24 hours before his appointment with the Dutch psychiatrist. According to DeMann, the defendant’s condition could improve within the next 3 to 6 months if he gets the proper treatment, and once the medication starts to take effect. Currently, he concluded, Stanisic’s mental condition is “at a very low point and he cannot sink any deeper,“ which is cause for “great concern.“ The doctor will reply to questions put to him by presiding judge Patrick Robinson over the further course of the trial within the next 24 hours. The Trial Chamber is trying to ascertain whether Stanisic is able to understand the nature of the charges against him, the proceedings against him, and the implications of a possible life sentence. The Trial Chamber also wants to ascertain if the accused is able to communicate with his defense team, and whether he is able to testify in his own defense if he decides to do so. Finally, the Trial Chamber wants to know if he is physically able to stand trail, and if his state of health requires any additional measures to ensure the normal resumption of the trial. Stanisic, who has been indicted together with his former deputy Franko Simatovic for crimes committed by Serb police and paramilitary forces in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina, failed to appear in the courtroom yet again. The report of the Detention Unit physician indicates his condition is “worse“ than it was last week, leading him to advise the accused not to attend the hearing. Stanisic’s defense team repeated its request for the health of the accused be discussed in a closed session, but Judge Robinson reiterated that his health was “a public matter“ in this case.

Hague: Stanišić on verge of mental breakdown

DeMann examined Stanišić in the detention unit hospital late last month and diagnosed him as suffering from “severe depression with elements of psychosis“ that has rendered him unfit to attend court proceedings for the next 3 to 6 months.

The doctor today took questions from the prosecution, defense and judges, explaining what had led him to conclude that Stanišić was not fit to stand trial.

The psychiatrists that had examined Stanišić previously did not find any elements of psychosis in his depression. DeMann, however, explained that the defendant’s condition had “deteriorated significantly“ in the meantime. Stanišić has “nightmares“ and “visions of scary creatures“ that “threaten him.“

According to prosecutor John Docherty, the hallucinations could be provoked by the antidepressant Miozepam that he has been prescribed. The prosecutor stated that “it is in the interest of the accused to appear sicker than he actually is.“

He added, nonetheless, that Stanišić’s mental state could have deteriorated after the kidney pains and morphine he was given 24 hours before his appointment with the Dutch psychiatrist.

According to DeMann, the defendant’s condition could improve within the next 3 to 6 months if he gets the proper treatment, and once the medication starts to take effect. Currently, he concluded, Stanišić’s mental condition is “at a very low point and he cannot sink any deeper,“ which is cause for “great concern.“

The doctor will reply to questions put to him by presiding judge Patrick Robinson over the further course of the trial within the next 24 hours. The Trial Chamber is trying to ascertain whether Stanišić is able to understand the nature of the charges against him, the proceedings against him, and the implications of a possible life sentence.

The Trial Chamber also wants to ascertain if the accused is able to communicate with his defense team, and whether he is able to testify in his own defense if he decides to do so. Finally, the Trial Chamber wants to know if he is physically able to stand trail, and if his state of health requires any additional measures to ensure the normal resumption of the trial.

Stanišić, who has been indicted together with his former deputy Franko Simatović for crimes committed by Serb police and paramilitary forces in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina, failed to appear in the courtroom yet again.

The report of the Detention Unit physician indicates his condition is “worse“ than it was last week, leading him to advise the accused not to attend the hearing. Stanišić’s defense team repeated its request for the health of the accused be discussed in a closed session, but Judge Robinson reiterated that his health was “a public matter“ in this case.