Man who cut off wife's head during cannabis-induced psychosis returned to hospital

Eoin Reynolds

A man who cut off his wife's head during a cannabis-induced psychosis has been returned to the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) for ongoing treatment.

Diego Costa Silva (35) killed his wife, Fabiola De Campos Silva (33), on November 4th, 2021, at their home in Charlestown Place, Finglas, Dublin 11.

At his trial earlier this month, he pleaded not guilty to murder. His trial heard that he believed he had to remove his wife's head to kill a serpent that had possessed her.

Two forensic consultant psychiatrists agreed that he was suffering from a mental disorder as defined in the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and that he qualified for a finding of not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

At a Central Criminal Court hearing on Thursday, Dr Dearbhla Duffy, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at the CMH, said that Mr Costa Silva continues to suffer from a mental disorder and is in need of in-patient treatment.

Prosecution barrister Edward Doocey BL outlined Dr Duffy's report but did not reveal the psychiatrist's current diagnosis of Mr Costa Silva.

Mr Justice Michael MacGrath ordered that Mr Costa Silva be returned to the CMH. His case will be mentioned before the court again on July 29th.

During the trial the jury heard that, after noting Mr Costa Silva was displaying a paranoid belief that his wife might hurt him, doctors at the Mater hospital asked the defendant to remain as a voluntary patient, but he chose to leave the day before the killing.

The court also heard Mr Costa Silva said he had recently confessed to his wife that he had been unfaithful to her.

Mr Costa Silva's trial heard that due to his mental disorder, he had come to believe that his wife was possessed by a serpent and that she would kill him.

After he attacked her, by striking her on the head with a mug, strangling and stabbing her, he cut her head off believing that he had to do so to make sure the serpent was dead.

Two forensic consultant psychiatrists gave evidence that Mr Costa Silva was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis with symptoms including paranoia, delusions and auditory hallucinations.

As a result of his illness he did not know the nature and quality of his actions and did not know that what he was doing was wrong, the psychiatrists said. Barristers for the defence and prosecution told the jury that Mr Costa Silva was not legally responsible for his actions.

The jury of seven men and five women took two hours and 24 minutes to come to their unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.