Man who bit officer during psychotic episode cleared on insanity grounds

The Court of Magistrates on Monday found Jianlin Shen not guilty by reason of insanity after he bit a police officer at Mater Dei Hospital in 2022.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the court also ordered that Shen be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital for further treatment.

Shen had been charged with attacking, insulting and threatening a public servant in the course of his duties, as well as disobeying legitimate orders. He had originally pleaded guilty to the charges.

The incident occurred after Shen was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital in 2022 following a fight in Marsascala. While in hospital, he locked himself in a bathroom and refused to come out, prompting staff to call the police for assistance.

An officer knocked on the bathroom door and eventually convinced Shen to open it. When the door opened, Shen bit the officer.

At the time, the court found Shen guilty on his own admission and sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay a €4,000 fine. Shen later appealed the sentence and pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity.

Psychiatrist Marija Axiak examined Shen and testified that he had been suffering from a manic episode with psychotic features at the time of the incident. Another doctor from Mater Dei Hospital testified that Shen had been diagnosed as suffering from a psychotic episode, which was the sole cause of his behaviour.

In light of the medical evidence, Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo found Shen not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered that he be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital for further treatment.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley led the prosecution.