Crown Court - Possessed (1975) - video Dailymotion

Jezza

Mrs Megwyn Spiteri was to face the charge of murdering her 5-year-old twins, but before the trial, her counsel claimed she was unfit to plead. Accordingly, a jury was empanelled to decide whether she is mentally incapable of appreciating all the allegations against her. Watch out for Ben Aris (of Hi-de-Hi fame) and film actor George Coulouris.

Transcript

00:00:00At midnight, on June the 30th last year, the rites of exorcism were pronounced over the

00:00:27five-year-old Spiteri twins as they slept in their nursery. Six weeks later, their father,

00:00:32Mr. Joseph Spiteri, was woken by his wife, Megwin. She was highly excited and shouting that she had

00:00:38saved the children. Mr. Spiteri found the twins huddled together in a state of deep coma.

00:00:44Despite emergency treatment, neither child recovered. And today, the mother stands trial

00:00:49in Fullchester Crown Court, charged with their murder. All stand.

00:00:57Please stand.

00:01:09You are Megwin Glynnis Spiteri of 15 Willow Park, Fullchester?

00:01:14Yes.

00:01:16Yes?

00:01:17My lord, before the jury is called, I...

00:01:19Yes, Mr. Cuma. You wish to make a special application?

00:01:22Yes, my lord.

00:01:24It is that Mrs. Spiteri is unfit to plead to the charge.

00:01:27In that she is incapable of understanding certain features of it.

00:01:30You wish this to be tried by jury as a preliminary to the main issue of murder?

00:01:34Yes, sir.

00:01:34Yes, very well. Please impanel the jury.

00:01:40And Mrs. Spiteri has been under your close psychiatric care, well, ever since her arrest,

00:01:45Dr. Morton?

00:01:46In the prison hospital, yes.

00:01:47Why was that?

00:01:48Initially, she was in a state of mutism due to severe shock.

00:01:51Mutism? You mean she couldn't speak?

00:01:54Couldn't speak, couldn't remember anything. Complete mental withdrawal.

00:01:59Your treatment?

00:02:01Initially, I put her on antidepressant drugs and later reinforced this with ECT, electroconvulsive therapy.

00:02:07Was this successful?

00:02:09Very gradually, yes. I was able to start clearing the blockage.

00:02:13She had a retrospective amnesia.

00:02:14Yes, but I mean, you were able to help her overcome this, Doctor.

00:02:17To some extent, yes.

00:02:19She now has substantial recall of her past life and marriage,

00:02:23all the problems relating to her twin children.

00:02:26But not of their actual deaths, eh?

00:02:29It's all right, Megwin.

00:02:30What?

00:02:30No, my lord, not their deaths.

00:02:32Not even after, what is it now, nearly eight months?

00:02:36It's an ego-defence mechanism, sir.

00:02:38By repressing the truth, she's warding off a severe depression.

00:02:42And your specific diagnosis?

00:02:44She's suffering from a depressive psychosis.

00:02:47A condition characterized not only by intense depressions, but also by delusions.

00:02:52About what?

00:02:53Usually sin.

00:02:54A morbid preoccupation with evil.

00:02:56A strong sense of contamination.

00:02:58Yes.

00:02:59So, if she were now allowed to plead to the charge, Doctor Morton...

00:03:03Then she might well say she was guilty of murder.

00:03:05Oh, she might.

00:03:06But only because her sickness gives her this prevailing sense of wickedness.

00:03:10Yes, but such a sense can spring also from genuine guilt.

00:03:14Yes, my lord, it can.

00:03:14Oh, it doesn't have to be imagined, Elusive.

00:03:16No, but in my professional view, she's still disturbed to the point of delusions.

00:03:21Yes, and a view formed over a longish period, Doctor.

00:03:23During some 20 therapeutic sessions with my patient.

00:03:26And until she's cured, you think it will be impossible for a jury to reach a just verdict?

00:03:31My concern, my lord, is less with justice...

00:03:33What?

00:03:33...than with my patient's immediate safety.

00:03:35My lord, perhaps if I may explain.

00:03:37Oh, he seems fully capable of doing that himself, Mr. Gilmar.

00:03:41Yes, Doctor?

00:03:42In my opinion, my lord, it is premature for this woman to be taking part in any trial.

00:03:48Oh, really?

00:03:50Oh, you mean even this trial on the issue of whether she's not...

00:03:53whether or not she's fit to plead?

00:03:55Yes, she's warding off full acceptance of reality.

00:03:58Well, so you tell us.

00:04:00If the process of this trial should force that on her, then...

00:04:02Well, it could severely exacerbate the depressive psychosis, severely.

00:04:06Ultimately, with further clinical treatment, I hope she'll make a full adjustment on her own.

00:04:10My lord, I understood this was to be a trial of a preliminary issue.

00:04:13The doctor appears to be asking for all proceedings to be adjourned.

00:04:17I would like to point out, my lord, that I can call evidence to prove that the accused is fit for any trial.

00:04:23Well, you see the dilemma, Doctor.

00:04:25I mean, here I have the prosecution's medical report saying that she's fit to be tried for murder.

00:04:33I have Mr. Gilmar here claiming that she's unfit to plead.

00:04:38Now I have you here telling me she shouldn't be tried at all.

00:04:43Well, now would this be a fair compromise, eh?

00:04:48I allow this hearing to continue, but only in your presence and under your expert eye, eh?

00:04:58Very well, my lord.

00:05:00Are you able to be available for the duration of the hearing?

00:05:05Naturally, I've already arranged that, my lord.

00:05:06Yes, yes, Mr. Martin.

00:05:09No further questions, my lord?

00:05:11No.

00:05:11Yes, Mr. Martin.

00:05:12With your lordship's permission, I would like to withhold the right to cross-examine Dr. Morton until after we've heard from the accused.

00:05:20Well, he will, after all, be remaining in court.

00:05:22Looking for a quid pro quo?

00:05:25Since this issue of her adjustment to reality appears to be...

00:05:29Yes, yes, well, Mr. Gilmar, that seems reasonable.

00:05:31Very well, my lord.

00:05:35Thank you, doctor.

00:05:35You can return to your seat.

00:05:37Uh, Mrs. Pateri, if you'd kindly go into the witness box, it's over there.

00:05:45That's it.

00:05:54You heard his lordship.

00:05:55I shall be just down here.

00:06:03What is your religion?

00:06:05Baptist.

00:06:05Take the Bible in your right hand and read aloud the words on this card.

00:06:10I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be...

00:06:13Now, Megwin, do you understand what's going on?

00:06:18What?

00:06:20Well, these people are here to try and decide how much you understand about the fate of your children.

00:06:26Now, to help them do that, I want you to tell us as clearly as you can the circumstances leading to the...

00:06:31well, the nervous illness which resulted in your going to hospital.

00:06:35Now, you've heard Dr. Morton describe how you're suffering from delusions.

00:06:39Oh, my lord, really, Mr. Gilmar.

00:06:42The accused may still be under medical treatment, but there is no justification for leading.

00:06:48The lord.

00:06:48When were your children born?

00:06:53On November 4th, 1969.

00:06:56Davy was first by the hour.

00:06:58Before Maria.

00:06:59Yes, always the slower.

00:07:01Well, the girl after all.

00:07:03David and Maria.

00:07:04Yes, one Maltese name, you see.

00:07:06Please speak up, Megwin.

00:07:08Nice and clear.

00:07:09Oh, yes.

00:07:11Where were you living, then?

00:07:13Still in the high flats, then, weren't we?

00:07:15In the Tower Flat Council Estate in West 4th.

00:07:17Yes, dreadful place it was like.

00:07:20Dreadful for children.

00:07:21Up so tall and all that vandalism and that.

00:07:25And no way out.

00:07:26Most unsuitable.

00:07:27Not that my children were difficult then, mind.

00:07:31Not until they came, you see.

00:07:34Before that, mind you, my babies were real lovely.

00:07:38Hmm.

00:07:40I mean, in fact, after about a year or so, you moved from the Tower Flat.

00:07:44Yes.

00:07:45Joe, Mr. Spiteri, he could see how a family couldn't live right in a place like that.

00:07:51So he found the place in Willow Park.

00:07:54You rented a little terraced house.

00:07:56Oh, yes.

00:07:57Perfect, it seemed at first.

00:07:59Bedrooms and bath upstairs.

00:08:03Modernised kitchen.

00:08:04More than we could afford, of course.

00:08:07But then, um...

00:08:08The twins at this stage, Megwin, still all right.

00:08:11Well, what else?

00:08:12Oh, sorry?

00:08:13Well, it was that place, wasn't it?

00:08:14Willow Park.

00:08:15That's where they were.

00:08:17Waiting.

00:08:18They?

00:08:19Waiting, you see.

00:08:20Waiting for innocence.

00:08:23Waiting for the right flesh to occupy.

00:08:25And we, me and Joey, we brought them there.

00:08:30We brought them like, like, like a sacrifice to Satan.

00:08:35Doctor, if that isn't her, cover-up.

00:08:55When did it start?

00:08:57What?

00:08:57With the voices, you mean?

00:08:58No, no, I mean, were there not symptoms before that?

00:09:02Signs.

00:09:04Look, you've told us that the twins did well up to the age of about three.

00:09:08You'd got them toilet trained early.

00:09:10They were both walking well before then.

00:09:13Both speaking well?

00:09:14Oh, no wonder.

00:09:15Proper pair of little mimics they were.

00:09:18Davey in particular.

00:09:19And playing quite normal.

00:09:20Not guns.

00:09:21I don't allow guns.

00:09:22No, but generally well advanced for their age.

00:09:24Yes, up to three.

00:09:26Three and a half, yes.

00:09:28Well, they used to help each other, see.

00:09:31Well, twins.

00:09:32A closeness.

00:09:33If one cried, the other cried.

00:09:35If Maria laughed, Davey laughed.

00:09:37If he had a bad night, she did too.

00:09:40A closeness, see.

00:09:42As if they shared something of their own.

00:09:45Shared secrets?

00:09:46Well, not...

00:09:47See, they used to cuddle, didn't they?

00:09:49Often.

00:09:50Never me or their da.

00:09:52No, never us.

00:09:53Just each other, but that's twins, you see.

00:09:57And then?

00:09:58About the age of three and a half.

00:10:01Well, it all started to go wrong.

00:10:03How?

00:10:05Well, sleeping bad, it was at first.

00:10:08Forever waking up and crying out.

00:10:11Fretful.

00:10:13Oh, if only I'd known then what it was.

00:10:15And what else?

00:10:17Well, moods.

00:10:18Well, only natural, wasn't it?

00:10:20Worn out they were, you see.

00:10:21So what else but grumpy all day?

00:10:25Except that it got worse.

00:10:27When they were listless one minute and in a proper tantrum the next.

00:10:31Tantrum?

00:10:32Yes, when they'd scream and shout and tear at each other and break everything in sight.

00:10:37Oh, it was shocking.

00:10:39What did you do?

00:10:41Well, there's not much I could do.

00:10:43Smacking made no difference.

00:10:45Worse, if anything.

00:10:46The best thing was the box.

00:10:50Box?

00:10:51The television, sir.

00:10:52Oh, yes.

00:10:53Oh, I hated it, mind.

00:10:55I always used to limit it before.

00:10:57Always.

00:10:57But, you see, when they got so difficult all day, it got so it was the only thing, you see.

00:11:07What about nursery school?

00:11:09Didn't they attend one?

00:11:10Well, not as there was one handy mind, but you couldn't have sent them not like that, you see.

00:11:16Oh, really?

00:11:16But, mind you, I was looking for something then.

00:11:21Something definite, if you get me.

00:11:23No.

00:11:24Like, say, pollution.

00:11:25Yes.

00:11:26Well, when you come from a hill farming family like me, all those dirty fumes in the towns.

00:11:33Noise.

00:11:34That's lorries, you know.

00:11:36I had, Joe, double glazed all the windows facing the high street.

00:11:40Yes, and I had the counselling to test for lead in the mains water.

00:11:44Lead or anything.

00:11:46Oh, very sensible.

00:11:47Well, that's what the health visitor said.

00:11:50And I took them to the kiddies' clinic to get a blood test.

00:11:54But when they had it, it was negative.

00:11:59Plenty of iron, but no lead.

00:12:01So what did you do then?

00:12:04Well, then I took them to Dr. Forbes, didn't I?

00:12:07Your local GP.

00:12:09Yes, that's him.

00:12:10Of course, he said I was fussing, imagining things.

00:12:14Oh, yes.

00:12:15Reading too many books, Dr. Spock and that.

00:12:17Must have been difficult.

00:12:20Well, when I took them back a month later, he gave them these pills, these tranquilizers.

00:12:26Did they help?

00:12:27Well, they did a bit with the tantrums, but not with the sleeping, and more listless than ever in the day.

00:12:35Not wanting to feed themselves.

00:12:39Never talking.

00:12:41Well, it was like having a couple of little strangers in the house.

00:12:46So, what then?

00:12:50Well, then, the health visitor, she could see that it was as bad as ever.

00:12:56She, it was, advised me to get them to a child specialist.

00:13:00Autistic, she thought they were.

00:13:02But when I told Dr. Forbes, he got very angry-like.

00:13:06So, the upshot of it was, I took them to see Dr. Grover, the senior partner.

00:13:12And he agreed?

00:13:14At the last, yes.

00:13:16He sent us to some clinic near Manchester.

00:13:19A child guidance clinic.

00:13:20That's it, yes.

00:13:22What age were their twins by then?

00:13:27Some months after their fourth birthday.

00:13:29So, you mean, it was going on for a year before you even managed to take them to a specialist?

00:13:34Now, what did this clinic say?

00:13:39Well, the child psychiatrist, now, he thought that they might be autistic because of them being withdrawn.

00:13:47But the child psychologist there, now, he disagreed with this.

00:13:50He wouldn't have it at any price.

00:13:52So, then?

00:13:54Well, then, they wanted me to go to London to have some special tests at a London hospital, you see.

00:14:00Oh, terrible journey it was.

00:14:04All that way on a train.

00:14:07And Divya and Maria getting worse by the minute.

00:14:09Yes, but these tests.

00:14:12But they were very nice there.

00:14:14Very kind and very patient.

00:14:16But, oh, there were so many of them.

00:14:19I don't know, neurologist, intelligence.

00:14:22Well, when I got home that night.

00:14:27But, you see, now, that was something odd, wasn't it?

00:14:31You would have thought they would have been tired and worn out like their poor man.

00:14:35But, no.

00:14:36Oh, that was the very night I first heard them at it.

00:14:40At what?

00:14:41Talking.

00:14:42Instead of going to sleep.

00:14:44Oh, no, they were asleep.

00:14:45But they were talking.

00:14:47Sleep talking?

00:14:49Well, yes, that's what I'd thought at first, you see.

00:14:52But it wasn't that.

00:14:54You see, if...

00:14:54If we might return to this in a moment.

00:14:57Oh.

00:14:58Well, whatever you say so, Mr. Kimmel.

00:15:00Now, what about these tests?

00:15:06Well, we...

00:15:07We ended up with Dr. Beale, didn't we?

00:15:12Dr. Hopkins Beale, a child psychiatrist.

00:15:14Yes, that's him over there.

00:15:16More waiting and another journey to Chester every time we got to see him.

00:15:21And what did this Dr. Beale come up with?

00:15:25Well, nothing for a while.

00:15:26Um, and then after the fourth or fifth visit, I can't remember.

00:15:32Yes?

00:15:34He...

00:15:35He said for me to send them away.

00:15:37Send them where?

00:15:39To a special place.

00:15:42A hospital for the mentally subnormal.

00:15:45I mean, subnormal.

00:15:47My babies shut away.

00:15:52Street jackets, like as not!

00:15:54Megwin. Megwin, gently.

00:15:55So they didn't go?

00:16:00No.

00:16:00No, you went against the advice of Dr. Hopkins.

00:16:04Hopkins Beale.

00:16:05Yes, yes.

00:16:06Well?

00:16:08Well, do you have children, sir?

00:16:11If you could imagine a mother's feelings.

00:16:14Well, you must have been very concerned for them, almost at your wit's end.

00:16:18Yes, I was.

00:16:18I was on tranquilizers myself by then.

00:16:21Well, then, surely the best course would have been to have followed the doctor's advice.

00:16:27Yes, yes, but years it might have been.

00:16:29Years in an institution.

00:16:32My babies.

00:16:35My...

00:16:36My whole life just snatched away.

00:16:42Yes, Mrs. Spiteria?

00:16:43Yes, yes.

00:16:44Well, anyway, you see.

00:16:46I was in...

00:16:49I was into wondering by then.

00:16:51Wondering what?

00:16:53Well, as if we weren't all chasing the wrong hair, if you get me.

00:16:58No?

00:17:00Well, contamination, that's what I thought it was.

00:17:02But it wasn't through fumes, or lead, or noise.

00:17:06Yes, and no more was it this autism, or dyslexia, or any of the other things that the doctors had thought.

00:17:12And then there was the talking.

00:17:15Oh, yes, yes, the sleep talking.

00:17:18All right, Mr. Kumar?

00:17:20Yeah, you tell us about that.

00:17:21Yes.

00:17:22Well, restlessness, I thought at first.

00:17:24I tried to wake them up so as to stop it.

00:17:28But they were so deep, you couldn't stir them, see, not ever.

00:17:32And then this one night, I started to listen.

00:17:37Listen proper.

00:17:39And then I saw how...

00:17:41Yes?

00:17:42Well, how it was, you see.

00:17:44They...

00:17:45They were talking to each other.

00:17:48In their sleep?

00:17:50In their sleep.

00:17:51Talking to each other.

00:17:53They were having a conversation.

00:17:56Oh, so you thought.

00:17:57Oh, no, it was a conversation.

00:17:59They were having a conversation, yes.

00:18:01Well, your husband, I mean, what did he have to say about all this?

00:18:05Well, me and Joe, we weren't so easy together then, not with all the worry and expense and that,

00:18:10and him with his job problems, Maltese, you see, and it doesn't help to be a foreigner,

00:18:15not when there are these layoffs and that about.

00:18:17Yes, yes, yes.

00:18:17So what you're saying is that you didn't tell your husband about this sleep talking, is there?

00:18:22I did try and tell him, I did try and tell him, but you see, he wouldn't accept.

00:18:25He'd never have as...

00:18:28Davy and Maria were as bad as I said.

00:18:30He thought it was my fault, didn't he?

00:18:34Well, that's how...

00:18:35That's how he called in the father.

00:18:38Who?

00:18:39Father Attard.

00:18:41Of the Maltese Community Association in London, my lord.

00:18:44Oh, yeah.

00:18:44He came?

00:18:46Yes, up from London.

00:18:48Um, he saw the twins and then he stayed on through the evening so he could hear them.

00:18:52We're here, they're sleep talking.

00:18:55Yes, that's right.

00:18:56Shall we be hearing from this man?

00:18:57Oh, yes.

00:18:58Oh, good, good.

00:18:59What did he have to say about it?

00:19:00Nothing, not to me.

00:19:01Oh?

00:19:02Only speaks to Joe and then in Maltese.

00:19:05Yes, but I mean, uh, your husband, didn't...

00:19:07didn't he tell you what this man had said afterwards?

00:19:10Not at first.

00:19:12Embarrassed, he was.

00:19:14A couple of weeks before he said, and, uh,

00:19:17then only because the father had been on to him and all.

00:19:19So?

00:19:19Well, Father Attard, he'd, he'd felt it.

00:19:26He, he saw how they were possessed with devils.

00:19:31See, I, I wouldn't have it at first.

00:19:35How outraged I was.

00:19:36I mean, the thought in my babies.

00:19:40But then, here was Father Attard talking about exorcism.

00:19:43Oh, exorcism.

00:19:44Mind you, Joe kept saying as he could do no harm and then Father Attard was their godfather.

00:19:49Yes, so you agreed to this exorcism.

00:19:51Oh, yes, I did.

00:19:52But, mind you, I only did because of the talking, you see.

00:19:56And, and, here in them,

00:19:59or night after night, I,

00:20:00I was so desperate.

00:20:03Anyway, he came with his robes and his candles, muttering Latin all over them.

00:20:15Well, Davey started shouting, Maria too, screaming the both of them.

00:20:19Well, I, I, I, Joe tried to get me out.

00:20:23Well, anyway, it, it failed and Father Attard was very angry and went away.

00:20:35And, after that, I suppose they knew they'd won because it got worse.

00:20:45Chattering and blaspheming all night, little devils.

00:20:50And talking about the most awful things,

00:20:53things no child of five could have heard of, you see.

00:20:55And, in the day, my babies,

00:21:02just sitting there,

00:21:03just sucking their thumbs,

00:21:05just watch, watching the box like a couple of little zombies.

00:21:10Never feeding themselves.

00:21:12No, I had to spoon their food into them

00:21:16and messing themselves without a word.

00:21:19Just empty,

00:21:21blank, useless.

00:21:23So, then I knew, you see,

00:21:25I knew he was right.

00:21:26I knew they were possessed.

00:21:29And, every night, these

00:21:30two foreign spirits

00:21:32coming into my babies,

00:21:35coming in, inhabiting their flesh,

00:21:38taunting them,

00:21:39talking through their tongues, you see,

00:21:40swearing and laughing

00:21:42and getting life from them.

00:21:44Of course, it was that place,

00:21:46that house.

00:21:47Yes, what else?

00:21:48But that they had been dwelling there, waiting, you see.

00:21:51Well, I told Joe.

00:21:53I told him, but he wouldn't have it.

00:21:55Oh, no, he wouldn't have it.

00:21:57I said to him,

00:21:58we've got to leave this place, I said.

00:22:00But he said, I was crazy.

00:22:04So, then?

00:22:08Well, then, I,

00:22:09I had this idea, see.

00:22:12They were coming at night, weren't they?

00:22:14Coming in,

00:22:17into my babies.

00:22:19So, I just thought, if I could

00:22:20keep them out,

00:22:23yes, keep them away,

00:22:24banish them,

00:22:25bar them from the flesh.

00:22:27You see, they were getting life from them.

00:22:29But at nights,

00:22:31only nights.

00:22:33So,

00:22:34if I could

00:22:35just keep them out,

00:22:37by keeping Davy

00:22:40and Maria awake.

00:22:43I was right,

00:22:44Doctor, wasn't I?

00:22:45You said I was right.

00:22:46It was what you believed.

00:22:47It did.

00:22:49So, what did you do?

00:22:53Well, just that.

00:22:56I got Joe off to sleep,

00:22:58nice and early,

00:22:58so he wouldn't interfere.

00:23:00And then I kept them awake.

00:23:02How, Megwin?

00:23:03Well, talking it was at first.

00:23:08And then,

00:23:09playing little games.

00:23:11That's right.

00:23:12And then when they got over drowsy,

00:23:14I gave them these pep pills.

00:23:15Yellow dexes from the clinic

00:23:17to stop them bed wetting.

00:23:19Well, it went fine at first.

00:23:22Except they,

00:23:22they did cry a lot.

00:23:24And then,

00:23:25more pills.

00:23:27And,

00:23:27more talking.

00:23:30And,

00:23:30oh, shaking.

00:23:31That's right.

00:23:32Shaking, you see.

00:23:33And pills.

00:23:34All,

00:23:34all,

00:23:36all through the night.

00:23:37Like the hymn, you see.

00:23:39That's what I was singing them.

00:23:41Hymns, you see.

00:23:42All through the night.

00:23:43Like we used to sing in chapel, you see.

00:23:46They, they, they, they,

00:23:47they couldn't go to sleep.

00:23:50No, they couldn't go to sleep.

00:23:51That's enough now.

00:23:52Because I,

00:23:53I, I, I,

00:23:54I just had to keep them out.

00:23:56Now, if I could keep them out, you see,

00:23:58it would be all right, you see.

00:23:59If only I could keep them out.

00:24:01Yes, doctor, but,

00:24:02look,

00:24:02if I could just,

00:24:04keep, keep, keep.

00:24:18The case of the Queen against Spiteri

00:24:20will be resumed tomorrow

00:24:21in the Crown Court.

00:24:23At the start of Mrs. Megwin's

00:24:53Spiteri's trial,

00:24:54her counsel claimed she was unfit

00:24:56to plead to the charge

00:24:57of poisoning her five-year-old twins.

00:24:59Accordingly, a jury was impanelled

00:25:01to hear evidence and decide

00:25:02whether she is mentally capable

00:25:04of understanding

00:25:04the allegations against her.

00:25:07Yesterday, a doctor said

00:25:08that due to a depressive psychosis,

00:25:10the mother has delusions

00:25:11about the true fate of her twins

00:25:12and, in fact,

00:25:13believes they are still alive.

00:25:15Mrs. Spiteri then described

00:25:16how they developed

00:25:17a strange illness

00:25:18where they were like zombies

00:25:20all day

00:25:20and spent their nights

00:25:21sleep-talking to each other.

00:25:23Their godfather,

00:25:24a Maltese priest,

00:25:25told her they were possessed

00:25:26of devils.

00:25:28It was after he'd tried

00:25:29spiritual exorcism,

00:25:30she said,

00:25:30that she resulted

00:25:31to her own means

00:25:32of purging the alien spirits.

00:25:34So, Megwin,

00:25:38you've told us how you,

00:25:41well, how you kept

00:25:41your twins awake

00:25:42with these pebbles and so on.

00:25:44Yes, just until dawn,

00:25:45when it was safe.

00:25:47Safe?

00:25:48To leave them.

00:25:50I went off

00:25:51and made a nice cup of tea,

00:25:52I did.

00:25:54And then when I came back,

00:25:56they were off

00:25:56into this lovely sleep,

00:25:59quiet and deep

00:26:00and troubled,

00:26:01and no more

00:26:02of this talking and that.

00:26:03So then I woke Joe up

00:26:06and told him.

00:26:08And then?

00:26:10Worn out I was.

00:26:12What were the effort

00:26:13of it all, you see?

00:26:15Well, I told Joe

00:26:16to watch them

00:26:17so I could get some rest.

00:26:20But he said,

00:26:22no, they were ill.

00:26:25Started shouting at me,

00:26:27shaking me.

00:26:28Well, this tiredness,

00:26:30you see,

00:26:31dropping I was.

00:26:32Well, then...

00:26:34Yes?

00:26:35What then?

00:26:39I don't...

00:26:40I suppose that's when

00:26:42I got ill.

00:26:43Is it, Doctor?

00:26:45I just don't remember.

00:26:47Just a hospital and...

00:26:50What about David and Maria?

00:26:52What about them?

00:26:54Oh, I wanted to see them.

00:26:56Asking I was.

00:26:58Yes?

00:27:00Yes.

00:27:01But he's got them off

00:27:02in Malta,

00:27:03like as not.

00:27:04He used to say he would,

00:27:06said I couldn't cope,

00:27:07said I wasn't

00:27:08a natural mother.

00:27:09He'd said that

00:27:10from right back.

00:27:12Oh, he said in Malta,

00:27:13they knew what

00:27:14a proper family should be.

00:27:15So you thought

00:27:16your husband

00:27:17had taken them overseas?

00:27:18Yes,

00:27:19like as not he has.

00:27:20Yes, but surely...

00:27:21That's right.

00:27:22That's right.

00:27:23No further questions,

00:27:24my lord.

00:27:26That's right.

00:27:29But they aren't

00:27:30in Malta,

00:27:31are they,

00:27:32Mrs. Pateri?

00:27:34What?

00:27:36David and Maria,

00:27:37they are not in Malta.

00:27:39They're dead.

00:27:40No.

00:27:40They're both dead,

00:27:43poisoned by the

00:27:44dexedrine tablets

00:27:44you've given them.

00:27:45No.

00:27:47Yes.

00:27:48Here.

00:27:50They're death certificates.

00:27:52Usher,

00:27:53show these to the witness.

00:27:57No.

00:27:58No what?

00:28:00A mistake.

00:28:01No mistake.

00:28:02Dead and buried,

00:28:04Mrs. Pateri.

00:28:05It's not them,

00:28:06not my babies.

00:28:09Madam,

00:28:09if you condescend

00:28:10and look at these documents,

00:28:10you'll see most clearly

00:28:11that it is them.

00:28:13David John Joseph Pateri,

00:28:15Maria Gwyneth Pateri,

00:28:17cause of death,

00:28:18poisoning.

00:28:18My lord,

00:28:19my client's mental state,

00:28:20reality.

00:28:22If no one has as yet

00:28:23seen fit to confront

00:28:23the accused

00:28:24with that reality,

00:28:25I think it's time

00:28:25someone did.

00:28:27They are both dead,

00:28:29Mrs. Pateri,

00:28:30as you very well know.

00:28:32A mistake.

00:28:34I was saving my babies.

00:28:36If anything died,

00:28:38it was them.

00:28:39Them?

00:28:40Oh,

00:28:41oh,

00:28:41you mean the two evil

00:28:42spirits of yours,

00:28:43the possessors.

00:28:44Yes,

00:28:45evil,

00:28:45wicked,

00:28:45up to the tricks they were.

00:28:47Oh,

00:28:47it's all right,

00:28:48doctor,

00:28:48your patient's

00:28:49repressions

00:28:50clearly stand intact.

00:28:53Well,

00:28:53so she would have us believe.

00:28:56Wouldn't you,

00:28:57Mrs. Pateri?

00:28:58I don't understand.

00:29:00No?

00:29:02Well,

00:29:02now,

00:29:02I'm going to put it to you

00:29:03that you do understand,

00:29:05that you understand very well,

00:29:07and that you've been putting on

00:29:08this elaborate act for us

00:29:10to win you sympathy.

00:29:13To win you sympathy

00:29:13and confirm

00:29:14your alleged illness.

00:29:15No,

00:29:16I've only told you the truth.

00:29:18Oh,

00:29:18but with one or two

00:29:19ingenious embellishments,

00:29:20yes?

00:29:21No,

00:29:21no.

00:29:22Like all this pretense

00:29:22that they aren't really dead,

00:29:24like contriving all this nonsense

00:29:26of ghosties and ghoulies

00:29:27and possession by evil spirits,

00:29:29yes?

00:29:29It's true.

00:29:30They were.

00:29:32Were?

00:29:33You mean while they were still alive?

00:29:35No,

00:29:35I mean,

00:29:35looked like I told you

00:29:38before I kept them out,

00:29:40see?

00:29:41Them?

00:29:41Oh,

00:29:42the possessors?

00:29:43Yes.

00:29:43That's right.

00:29:44Yes.

00:29:45Why didn't you tell your husband?

00:29:49Why didn't you tell your husband

00:29:51you believe they were possessed?

00:29:53I did.

00:29:54I did.

00:29:55Did you?

00:29:56We shall be hearing

00:29:58from your husband later,

00:30:00you know.

00:30:01He will tell us.

00:30:03Are you quite sure?

00:30:06You told him you wanted

00:30:07to move out of the terrace house?

00:30:09Yes.

00:30:10Yes.

00:30:11But did you tell him why?

00:30:13I mean,

00:30:14did you tell him

00:30:14you thought the place

00:30:15was haunted?

00:30:18Well,

00:30:19madam?

00:30:20Well,

00:30:20it wouldn't have helped,

00:30:21see?

00:30:22No,

00:30:23I don't see.

00:30:24He'd been very angry.

00:30:26Oh,

00:30:26why?

00:30:27Because of the way

00:30:28I'd behaved

00:30:28to Father Atta,

00:30:29upsetting his special mass

00:30:31and that,

00:30:31and,

00:30:33well,

00:30:33then I,

00:30:33I was afraid.

00:30:35Because he'd been angry?

00:30:37And more.

00:30:38More?

00:30:39Your husband

00:30:39had ill-treated you,

00:30:41beaten you.

00:30:42Yes,

00:30:43but,

00:30:43see,

00:30:44you've got to understand,

00:30:45in Malta,

00:30:46well,

00:30:46I mean,

00:30:47for a wife

00:30:47to behave

00:30:48as I did

00:30:49to a patriarch

00:30:49of the community,

00:30:50let alone him

00:30:51being a priest,

00:30:52well,

00:30:53Joe was only doing

00:30:53what he thought was right.

00:30:55I see,

00:30:56yes.

00:30:57So,

00:30:57now you're telling us

00:30:58that you did not talk

00:30:59about your possession idea

00:31:01to your husband?

00:31:02Yes,

00:31:03that's right.

00:31:04Well,

00:31:04did you tell anyone

00:31:05of these fears?

00:31:08No?

00:31:09Well,

00:31:09not the doctor,

00:31:10not the neighbours.

00:31:12Well,

00:31:13you can't,

00:31:14can you?

00:31:15Not a thing like that.

00:31:17Why?

00:31:19Afraid they'd think

00:31:20you were mad,

00:31:21perhaps?

00:31:22Not so scared

00:31:23of being thought mad

00:31:24now,

00:31:24though,

00:31:25are we?

00:31:25Really,

00:31:26my lord,

00:31:26I'm...

00:31:27You've told us

00:31:29your husband blames you

00:31:30for the disturbed

00:31:31state of your children,

00:31:32yes?

00:31:34You feel guilty,

00:31:35responsible.

00:31:37Why did you have twins

00:31:39in the first place,

00:31:40do you think?

00:31:40Why?

00:31:41Isn't it a fact

00:31:42that you believe

00:31:43that that was your fault,

00:31:44also?

00:31:44Look,

00:31:45he was the Catholic,

00:31:46wasn't he?

00:31:46Maltese,

00:31:47you see.

00:31:48I wanted to

00:31:49keep on with my job.

00:31:51I didn't want to rush

00:31:52into a family,

00:31:53but,

00:31:54well,

00:31:54as Joe sees it,

00:31:55women are for

00:31:56making children,

00:31:57not money.

00:31:59You were using

00:31:59a contraceptive pill,

00:32:00weren't you?

00:32:01But secretly.

00:32:05Yes,

00:32:05well,

00:32:05I didn't know

00:32:06it would act up

00:32:06like that,

00:32:07did I?

00:32:08Like what,

00:32:09Mrs. Bedell?

00:32:09Well,

00:32:09how you'd have

00:32:10come on

00:32:11extra fertile

00:32:11when you leave

00:32:12off it.

00:32:12I didn't know

00:32:13that.

00:32:14Extra fertile.

00:32:16Well,

00:32:16I don't think

00:32:17there's any

00:32:17medical evidence

00:32:18for that,

00:32:18but the fact

00:32:19remains that

00:32:19you believe

00:32:20that is why

00:32:20you had twins.

00:32:21It is.

00:32:22He found the pills

00:32:23and then

00:32:24he threw them

00:32:24away,

00:32:25and then...

00:32:25Twins!

00:32:26Guilt!

00:32:28Remorse!

00:32:30And then,

00:32:30because of all that,

00:32:31you determined

00:32:31to make them

00:32:32perfect,

00:32:33didn't you?

00:32:33And why not?

00:32:35You instituted

00:32:35these rigid disciplines,

00:32:36no naughtiness,

00:32:37no spoiling.

00:32:38Isolate them

00:32:39from other children.

00:32:40Keep them always

00:32:41clean and well-behaved.

00:32:44Is that wrong?

00:32:45Is it?

00:32:46I wanted...

00:32:47Perfection!

00:32:48Oh,

00:32:48they were.

00:32:49They were.

00:32:51Were?

00:32:51Don't you mean

00:32:52are,

00:32:52Mrs. Spiteri?

00:32:53I thought you were

00:32:54telling us

00:32:54they're still alive.

00:32:55I mean

00:32:56were,

00:32:57were,

00:32:57before they

00:32:58kept them out.

00:32:59Oh, yes,

00:33:00of course,

00:33:01these spirits.

00:33:02Yes.

00:33:03Nevertheless,

00:33:04you used to

00:33:04beat them,

00:33:05didn't you?

00:33:06What?

00:33:07Davy in particular.

00:33:09No,

00:33:10only smacks.

00:33:11Smacks when

00:33:12they were naughty.

00:33:13Only smacks?

00:33:13What about the time

00:33:14when the television

00:33:14broke down,

00:33:15Mrs. Spiteri?

00:33:17Well,

00:33:18that,

00:33:19that...

00:33:20That was what?

00:33:22Different?

00:33:23Yes.

00:33:25It was,

00:33:26it was the only thing

00:33:27to keep them quiet,

00:33:29you see,

00:33:29the only thing,

00:33:30and I,

00:33:31I was in a terrible

00:33:33state myself,

00:33:34you see,

00:33:35I hadn't had

00:33:36any proper sleep,

00:33:37not for nights,

00:33:38and,

00:33:39well,

00:33:39half a...

00:33:40Well,

00:33:41then the damn

00:33:41thing broke down.

00:33:43You should have

00:33:43seen them,

00:33:44creating like animals

00:33:45they were,

00:33:46I...

00:33:46Perhaps the impulse

00:33:47to kill the twins

00:33:48had already formed,

00:33:49Mrs. Spiteri.

00:33:50Impulse?

00:33:51You felt you'd

00:33:52failed,

00:33:52didn't you?

00:33:53Oh,

00:33:53not fail.

00:33:54Despite all

00:33:55your discipline,

00:33:55rigid standards,

00:33:56and smacking,

00:33:57despite all this,

00:33:58you'd failed.

00:33:59Your children

00:33:59were flawed,

00:34:00contaminated,

00:34:01as you've told us,

00:34:02but not

00:34:02with alien spirits.

00:34:04Yes.

00:34:05No,

00:34:06simply your own

00:34:06inadequacy.

00:34:08Life was hell,

00:34:09wasn't it?

00:34:10And the twins,

00:34:11your whole life,

00:34:12as you've said,

00:34:14they were the most

00:34:14hellish part.

00:34:16A constant reminder

00:34:18of failure

00:34:18and contamination.

00:34:20Not the twins,

00:34:21not my babies.

00:34:22They had to be put

00:34:23down,

00:34:23didn't they,

00:34:23Mrs. Spiteri?

00:34:24No.

00:34:25Put down,

00:34:25like you'd cull out

00:34:26the runts from the litter.

00:34:28No.

00:34:28It was a kindness,

00:34:29wasn't it?

00:34:30Put them out

00:34:31of their misery.

00:34:32Purge them,

00:34:33and purge yourself

00:34:34of the contamination.

00:34:36Look,

00:34:36only the spirits,

00:34:37they're possessors.

00:34:38Oh, no.

00:34:39No,

00:34:39that came after

00:34:40that idea,

00:34:41just as the idea

00:34:42of killing yourself

00:34:43came after,

00:34:44Mrs. Spiteri.

00:34:46What?

00:34:47You tried to kill yourself

00:34:49in the prison hospital,

00:34:50didn't you?

00:34:52Out of remorse

00:34:53and shame,

00:34:55because you know

00:34:56very well

00:34:57that you killed

00:34:57your children.

00:34:58Lord,

00:34:59I do hope

00:34:59my friend has

00:35:00some evidence

00:35:00to substantiate this.

00:35:01I know nothing of it.

00:35:02Have you,

00:35:03Mr. Lodderby?

00:35:03Yes,

00:35:04my lord,

00:35:04I have.

00:35:05Moreover,

00:35:05I expect both

00:35:06the accused

00:35:07and Dr. Morton

00:35:08to confirm it.

00:35:08This is unnecessary,

00:35:09irrelevant.

00:35:10Yes,

00:35:10Dr. Morton,

00:35:11I hope you will not

00:35:11attempt to influence

00:35:12the witness.

00:35:13I'm sorry,

00:35:14my lord,

00:35:14that was not my intention,

00:35:15but in view of

00:35:16the attitude of this man...

00:35:17In view of nothing,

00:35:17sit down.

00:35:18Mrs. Spiteri,

00:35:19did you attempt

00:35:20suicide

00:35:21in the prison hospital?

00:35:22It's...

00:35:25It's what's happened

00:35:28to me since.

00:35:29Yes?

00:35:30Since I saved

00:35:31my babies.

00:35:32What has happened?

00:35:35Well,

00:35:35I...

00:35:36I did keep them

00:35:38out that night.

00:35:39I did keep them

00:35:41out of my twins,

00:35:42but...

00:35:43Yes?

00:35:44Oh,

00:35:45they've come

00:35:47into me,

00:35:48you see.

00:35:49Both are the spirits.

00:35:51They're in me.

00:35:53They...

00:35:53They're evil.

00:35:56They're foul.

00:35:57They are me.

00:35:58They're taunting me.

00:36:00They're talking

00:36:01through my tongue.

00:36:03Oh,

00:36:03they are me.

00:36:05Do you wonder

00:36:05I want to kill myself?

00:36:07Do you wonder?

00:36:09Do you wonder

00:36:09I want to kill myself?

00:36:18No, doctor.

00:36:25What matters

00:36:26for this trial

00:36:27is the specific

00:36:28definition

00:36:29of Mrs. Spiteri's

00:36:30current mental state.

00:36:33Well,

00:36:34yes,

00:36:34of course.

00:36:35If it is proved

00:36:35that she is currently

00:36:36psychotic,

00:36:38as you maintain,

00:36:39then she may be found

00:36:41unfit to plead.

00:36:42Quite.

00:36:43But if,

00:36:43on the other hand,

00:36:44the jury finds

00:36:45that she's merely neurotic,

00:36:47then she must be found

00:36:48unfit.

00:36:50Now, doctor,

00:36:50you diagnosed

00:36:51a depressive psychosis

00:36:53characterized

00:36:54by severe delusions.

00:36:56After some

00:36:5720 therapeutic sessions,

00:36:58yes,

00:36:59I did.

00:36:59Well,

00:37:00you see,

00:37:00I'm going to suggest

00:37:01that no matter

00:37:01how many sessions,

00:37:02you could be mistaken.

00:37:03No one's infallible,

00:37:05of course.

00:37:05What would cause

00:37:06such a psychosis

00:37:07as you've described?

00:37:09Cause?

00:37:10The most widely

00:37:12accepted explanation

00:37:13is that it's

00:37:13an hereditary condition.

00:37:15But in some cases,

00:37:16clinical symptoms

00:37:17only emerge

00:37:18when the patient

00:37:19is exposed

00:37:19to a situation

00:37:20of intolerable stress.

00:37:21I see.

00:37:22So what do you think you're...

00:37:22Such as those

00:37:23to which Megwin Spiteri

00:37:24was exposed.

00:37:25But surely,

00:37:25Mrs. Spiteri...

00:37:26If I may be allowed

00:37:26to finish.

00:37:30You heard her yourselves.

00:37:32The hellish treadmill

00:37:33of National Health Service

00:37:34referrals,

00:37:35trailing from one specialist

00:37:36to another,

00:37:37clinic to clinic,

00:37:38told she was fussing,

00:37:40imagining things,

00:37:40and all the time

00:37:41her children getting worse,

00:37:43withdrawing into tantrums

00:37:44in this zombie-like state.

00:37:47Her husband telling her

00:37:48that she was to blame

00:37:49for it all,

00:37:49and then bringing in a priest.

00:37:51And then,

00:37:52having Dr. Beale tell her

00:37:53the twins must go away

00:37:55to a hospital

00:37:55for the mentally subnormal.

00:37:58For such a mother,

00:38:00any mother with a strong

00:38:01emotional dependence

00:38:02upon her children,

00:38:03well,

00:38:04what more appalling

00:38:05judgment than that

00:38:07as the climax

00:38:08to all her efforts

00:38:09and anxiety?

00:38:11Yes,

00:38:11and making for

00:38:12an acute sense

00:38:13of failure.

00:38:14But as likely

00:38:15to make her neurotic

00:38:16and psychotic,

00:38:17surely, Doctor?

00:38:18Perhaps.

00:38:18I mean,

00:38:19take, for instance,

00:38:19the depressions.

00:38:22Yes.

00:38:22What mother

00:38:23wouldn't be depressed

00:38:24to find herself

00:38:25confined at a prison hospital

00:38:27after having poisoned

00:38:28her two children?

00:38:29I would have thought

00:38:30that was a pretty

00:38:31normal response,

00:38:32depression.

00:38:33Of course,

00:38:34except that Mrs. Spiteri

00:38:35was in acute shock

00:38:37to the point of mutism

00:38:38and amnesia,

00:38:38and was later found

00:38:40to be suffering

00:38:40severe delusions.

00:38:42Or so she led you

00:38:43to believe, Doctor.

00:38:45You see,

00:38:46I'm suggesting

00:38:46that she was deceiving you.

00:38:49Really?

00:38:49Well, naturally,

00:38:50she was in shock,

00:38:51just that she was,

00:38:52uh,

00:38:53depressed,

00:38:55but not psychotically so,

00:38:57not due to any,

00:38:58uh,

00:39:00what was it you said,

00:39:01uh,

00:39:02hereditary psychosis.

00:39:04Not due to any

00:39:04hereditary psychosis

00:39:06you've diagnosed.

00:39:07Look,

00:39:07if we could just

00:39:08try to clarify this.

00:39:09Oh,

00:39:09please do,

00:39:10Doctor.

00:39:11Now,

00:39:11you're saying

00:39:12she could be lying

00:39:13about her belief

00:39:14in their possession,

00:39:14is that right?

00:39:15Yes.

00:39:16Pretending the delusions?

00:39:17Exactly.

00:39:18That she deliberately

00:39:20disposed of her children

00:39:21out of some sort of,

00:39:22I don't know,

00:39:23warped euthanasia motive

00:39:24because she saw them

00:39:25as,

00:39:26runts?

00:39:29Perhaps,

00:39:29but whatever her motives,

00:39:31what I'm saying

00:39:31is that they had

00:39:32nothing whatsoever

00:39:33to do with liberating

00:39:34her children

00:39:35from spiritual possession.

00:39:37Hmm.

00:39:38Or so you would like

00:39:39to prove.

00:39:41Are you married,

00:39:42Doctor?

00:39:42A family man?

00:39:44Do I have to answer that,

00:39:45my lord?

00:39:45Is this relevant,

00:39:46Mr. Lodemy?

00:39:46Yes, my lord.

00:39:47Are you married,

00:39:48Doctor?

00:39:49Yes.

00:39:49Any children?

00:39:50Four,

00:39:51but I don't see what that...

00:39:51Oh,

00:39:51in your evidence

00:39:52to my loaded friend,

00:39:53you referred to

00:39:53an ego defense mechanism.

00:39:55Yes.

00:39:56Now,

00:39:57no one will deny,

00:39:58Doctor,

00:39:58your evident compassion,

00:40:01the strong sense

00:40:01of involvement

00:40:02you have in Mrs. Spiteri's case.

00:40:04No more so

00:40:05than with any other patient.

00:40:06All these outbursts

00:40:07of yours

00:40:08about the NHS treadmill,

00:40:09the intolerable stresses

00:40:11she's had to endure.

00:40:12So?

00:40:13The emotional way

00:40:13in which you've challenged

00:40:14the court's right

00:40:15to try her at all.

00:40:16She's not cured.

00:40:17It's obvious

00:40:17you are involved,

00:40:19Doctor.

00:40:19You care most deeply,

00:40:22even to the point

00:40:23of prejudice.

00:40:24No.

00:40:26And why?

00:40:27Because,

00:40:27Doctor,

00:40:28as a family man

00:40:29with four children,

00:40:31you find the alternative

00:40:32utterly intolerable,

00:40:35do you not?

00:40:36Alternative?

00:40:37The alternative

00:40:38to psychosis.

00:40:39I don't follow.

00:40:41Infanticide,

00:40:42Doctor.

00:40:43The crime

00:40:44of infanticide.

00:40:46You find it

00:40:46utterly intolerable

00:40:48that any mother

00:40:49could consciously

00:40:50desire to poison

00:40:51her children.

00:40:52Nonsense.

00:40:54An ego defense mechanism.

00:40:56Is it not you

00:40:57who has to

00:40:58reject the reality,

00:40:59Doctor?

00:41:00Well, really.

00:41:01Hide the reality

00:41:02of such cruelty

00:41:02behind psychiatric jargon,

00:41:05severe depressive psychosis,

00:41:07a delusion

00:41:08that she wasn't

00:41:09killing her children

00:41:09but saving them?

00:41:10this is your let out,

00:41:12isn't it, Doctor?

00:41:13Very clever,

00:41:15but not,

00:41:15not true.

00:41:18No, Doctor?

00:41:20No further questions.

00:41:21Do you wish to re-examine?

00:41:23Do you mind?

00:41:23Um, briefly,

00:41:25my lord.

00:41:27Doctor,

00:41:27you're a professional

00:41:28psychiatrist of how many

00:41:29years' experience?

00:41:30Roughly 15 years

00:41:31in medicine,

00:41:3211 of them

00:41:33in psychiatry.

00:41:35Specializing in criminal

00:41:36psychopathy?

00:41:37Yes.

00:41:38So it's

00:41:39not unusual for you

00:41:40to examine a mother

00:41:41accused of infanticide?

00:41:42No, unfortunately.

00:41:44Could you have let yourself

00:41:45get emotionally

00:41:46prejudiced in this case?

00:41:47I hope not,

00:41:49but...

00:41:49Yes?

00:41:51Obviously,

00:41:52one wouldn't be human

00:41:52not to care.

00:41:54Just have to try,

00:41:55that's all.

00:41:55Try to keep assessments

00:41:56as dispassionate

00:41:58as possible.

00:42:00Thank you, Doctor.

00:42:01You may return

00:42:02to your seat.

00:42:05I call

00:42:05Joseph Borg Spiteri.

00:42:09Joseph Borg Spiteri,

00:42:10please.

00:42:10This right, sir.

00:42:17You are

00:42:24Joseph Borg Spiteri

00:42:26of

00:42:2715

00:42:28Willow Place,

00:42:29Fulchester?

00:42:30Yes.

00:42:31Sir,

00:42:32what I have told police,

00:42:35that was said in anger.

00:42:36I did not mean

00:42:37these things.

00:42:38You are referring

00:42:39to the statement

00:42:40you made to the police

00:42:41following the deaths

00:42:42of the children.

00:42:43Sir,

00:42:43I was much upset.

00:42:44Well,

00:42:47Mr Spiteri,

00:42:48this trial

00:42:50is not about

00:42:51your wife's guilt

00:42:51or innocence of murder.

00:42:53What, please?

00:42:55You're here

00:42:55as a defense witness.

00:42:57You see,

00:42:57you've been called

00:42:58to describe

00:42:58the state of mind

00:42:59of your wife

00:43:00prior to the tragic events

00:43:02of the night of,

00:43:02what is it,

00:43:034th of August last.

00:43:04State of mind?

00:43:06Her illness.

00:43:07Illness.

00:43:08Much illness

00:43:09is no doubt.

00:43:12Yes?

00:43:13Always to doctors.

00:43:14always wanting

00:43:16or another.

00:43:18Skin rashes,

00:43:19migraines,

00:43:21bad sleep.

00:43:22It's this or that.

00:43:23Making children

00:43:24very bad.

00:43:26No surprising,

00:43:27huh?

00:43:29If she

00:43:29no go to doctor,

00:43:31she's afraid

00:43:32of dirt,

00:43:34noise,

00:43:35what do you call?

00:43:36Pollution.

00:43:37Pollution.

00:43:38Lead,

00:43:39air,

00:43:39everything.

00:43:41Not even

00:43:42allowing us

00:43:43to have pet dogs.

00:43:44Not even that.

00:43:46No dog?

00:43:46Why not?

00:43:47Dirty.

00:43:48Messy.

00:43:49One time,

00:43:50she said to me

00:43:51how the kiddies are bad.

00:43:52I go out

00:43:53to buy puppy dog.

00:43:55I said to her,

00:43:56it's better.

00:43:57Spaniel is better

00:43:58for them

00:43:58than the television.

00:44:00But she wouldn't have it.

00:44:00sir,

00:44:01sir,

00:44:02all day

00:44:03was fine.

00:44:05Bouncing,

00:44:06noisy,

00:44:06but

00:44:07is okay.

00:44:09But night time

00:44:09is trouble.

00:44:12All night,

00:44:13whining for to go out,

00:44:15missing the house,

00:44:16acting bad.

00:44:18Couple of nights like this,

00:44:19back to the shop.

00:44:20But that animal,

00:44:21you see,

00:44:21it could tell,

00:44:22it could sense them

00:44:23coming into the...

00:44:24You must remain silent,

00:44:25Mrs. Bedieri.

00:44:26Yes,

00:44:26but that puppy,

00:44:27it knew,

00:44:28you see.

00:44:28That's enough about it now.

00:44:30Yes?

00:44:32As you were saying

00:44:33about her pollution fears.

00:44:35So,

00:44:36always calling council

00:44:38for to make tests.

00:44:39Test water,

00:44:41gas leaks,

00:44:42children's blood,

00:44:43food.

00:44:44This I don't believe.

00:44:46Only on this matter

00:44:47of the house,

00:44:48I am persuaded.

00:44:50The house?

00:44:51Sir,

00:44:51for to move

00:44:52from Tower Flats.

00:44:53That was for best.

00:44:55Oh, yeah.

00:44:55It's so high,

00:44:56so bad for children, sir.

00:44:57Yes,

00:44:57but as for leaving

00:44:58the terrace house

00:45:00in Willow Park?

00:45:03Yes,

00:45:03she wanted.

00:45:04She wanted to go, sir.

00:45:05Why?

00:45:06Fear.

00:45:07Of what?

00:45:09Like all things else.

00:45:11Air,

00:45:12dirt,

00:45:12the house,

00:45:14contamination,

00:45:15she says.

00:45:16I say,

00:45:17no,

00:45:18it's not true.

00:45:19It's not true.

00:45:20It's only in here.

00:45:22Oh,

00:45:24much sorrow.

00:45:25She said nothing to you

00:45:26about the house

00:45:27being haunted,

00:45:28about the children

00:45:29being possessed

00:45:29by alien spirits?

00:45:33Superstitions, huh?

00:45:34Foolish talk.

00:45:36Village people,

00:45:37they talk like that.

00:45:38Yes,

00:45:38but did your wife?

00:45:41I have,

00:45:42this friend

00:45:43from Malta,

00:45:45a priest

00:45:46in Valletta

00:45:47where he knows

00:45:48my family,

00:45:49but he'd been here

00:45:51ten years.

00:45:52He married us,

00:45:53he made the godfather

00:45:55for the children.

00:45:57God now

00:45:58has taken them.

00:45:59He spoke of possession?

00:46:01Sir,

00:46:02he was their

00:46:03spiritual father.

00:46:04He had their souls

00:46:06in his hands.

00:46:07Yes,

00:46:08and your wife,

00:46:08did she believe

00:46:09what he said?

00:46:11She don't understand.

00:46:12Oh?

00:46:13She is not

00:46:14of our fate.

00:46:16This priest,

00:46:17my friend,

00:46:18he comes

00:46:19for to say

00:46:20a special mass

00:46:21to bless the children.

00:46:22and then

00:46:24the illness

00:46:27come to her.

00:46:28She is screaming.

00:46:30She does not know

00:46:31what she does.

00:46:33Oh,

00:46:33it's bad.

00:46:35Oh,

00:46:35much sorrow,

00:46:36sir.

00:46:36And she said

00:46:37nothing to you

00:46:38afterwards

00:46:38about the children

00:46:40being possessed

00:46:41by demons?

00:46:42No,

00:46:43nothing,

00:46:44sir.

00:46:45Nevertheless,

00:46:45Mr. Spiteri,

00:46:46you had plenty

00:46:47to say to her,

00:46:47didn't you?

00:46:48What,

00:46:49sir?

00:46:50About her behaviour

00:46:51towards Father Attard.

00:46:55Come now,

00:46:55didn't you punish her?

00:46:58Didn't you give her

00:46:58a beating,

00:46:59Mrs. Spiteri,

00:46:59didn't you?

00:47:01She

00:47:02beated

00:47:02David.

00:47:03She beated

00:47:04my son.

00:47:05She was not

00:47:05a true mother.

00:47:09I'm sorry,

00:47:09sir,

00:47:10if I shout.

00:47:11It's because

00:47:11I have much

00:47:12feelings in here.

00:47:15Yes,

00:47:16I beated

00:47:18her.

00:47:19I beated

00:47:19my wife

00:47:20when she

00:47:21was ill

00:47:21in here.

00:47:23But

00:47:24I know

00:47:26one much

00:47:26from life,

00:47:28only

00:47:29home,

00:47:31family,

00:47:31wife,

00:47:32children.

00:47:33I try

00:47:34for these

00:47:35things.

00:47:35I try.

00:47:36When there

00:47:37is work,

00:47:37I work.

00:47:39I pray.

00:47:40I pay

00:47:41the taxes.

00:47:42I keep

00:47:42the law.

00:47:43I try.

00:47:43But

00:47:46always

00:47:46with the

00:47:47troubles.

00:47:48Always.

00:47:49The

00:47:50children,

00:47:51the illness,

00:47:52everything

00:47:52going wrong.

00:47:55Yes,

00:47:56I beated

00:47:56her.

00:47:57It's

00:47:58bad.

00:48:00And now,

00:48:01now I

00:48:02pay.

00:48:03You

00:48:03pray,

00:48:04Mrs. Spiteri?

00:48:05Pay.

00:48:07P-A-Y.

00:48:09Pay

00:48:09with the

00:48:10lives of

00:48:11my two

00:48:11children.

00:48:12The

00:48:36case of the

00:48:36Queen against

00:48:37Spiteri will

00:48:38be concluded

00:48:39tomorrow in

00:48:40the Crown

00:48:40Court.

00:48:40Mrs.

00:49:07Megwin-Spiteri was

00:49:08to face the

00:49:09charge of

00:49:09murdering her

00:49:10five-year-old

00:49:11twins.

00:49:12But before

00:49:12the trial,

00:49:13her counsel

00:49:13claimed she

00:49:14was unfit

00:49:14to plead.

00:49:16Accordingly,

00:49:16a jury was

00:49:17in panel to

00:49:17decide whether

00:49:18she is

00:49:18mentally

00:49:18incapable of

00:49:20appreciating all

00:49:21the allegations

00:49:21against her.

00:49:23In evidence,

00:49:23a psychiatrist

00:49:24said that

00:49:24due to a

00:49:25depressive

00:49:25psychosis,

00:49:27the mother

00:49:27has delusions

00:49:28about the

00:49:28true fate

00:49:29of her

00:49:29twins and

00:49:30in fact

00:49:30believes

00:49:31they are

00:49:31still alive.

00:49:32Mrs.

00:49:32Spiteri then

00:49:33described how

00:49:34her children

00:49:34changed,

00:49:35becoming like

00:49:36zombies all

00:49:37day and

00:49:37at night

00:49:38sleep-talking

00:49:39to each

00:49:39other.

00:49:40Believing

00:49:40they were

00:49:41nightly

00:49:41possessed

00:49:41with demons,

00:49:42she said

00:49:43she tried

00:49:43to save

00:49:44the children

00:49:44by keeping

00:49:45them awake

00:49:45with pep

00:49:46pills.

00:49:47Her

00:49:47husband,

00:49:48Joseph Spiteri,

00:49:48is being

00:49:49cross-examined

00:49:49by the

00:49:50prosecution.

00:49:50now then,

00:49:52Mr.

00:49:53Spiteri,

00:49:54my friend

00:49:54asked you

00:49:55at some

00:49:55length

00:49:55about your

00:49:56wife's

00:49:56nervous

00:49:56illness

00:49:57and from

00:49:57your replies

00:49:58it would

00:49:58seem she

00:49:59in fact

00:49:59suffered no

00:49:59more than

00:50:00a few

00:50:00typically

00:50:01neurotic

00:50:02symptoms.

00:50:03Neurotic?

00:50:04Well,

00:50:04headaches,

00:50:05skin rashes,

00:50:05insomnia.

00:50:07It's true,

00:50:08true.

00:50:08You said

00:50:09nothing,

00:50:09for instance,

00:50:09of her

00:50:10having delusions

00:50:12or acute

00:50:12depressions.

00:50:14She,

00:50:15my wife,

00:50:16she was

00:50:17not happy.

00:50:18Well,

00:50:19no,

00:50:19of course

00:50:20not,

00:50:20the children

00:50:21ill and

00:50:21so on.

00:50:21Often

00:50:22she'd say

00:50:23to me

00:50:24how,

00:50:25yes,

00:50:25Mr.

00:50:26Spiteri,

00:50:27sir,

00:50:27how I

00:50:28only marry

00:50:28her for

00:50:28to stay

00:50:29here,

00:50:30how she

00:50:30is my

00:50:31passport

00:50:32for to

00:50:33stay in

00:50:33the UK.

00:50:34It's not

00:50:35true.

00:50:36You're not

00:50:36dependent on

00:50:37her for

00:50:37your status

00:50:38as a

00:50:38British

00:50:38citizen.

00:50:39No,

00:50:39sir,

00:50:39but she

00:50:40always say

00:50:41how I

00:50:41marry her

00:50:42only for

00:50:42this.

00:50:44It's

00:50:44because

00:50:44she is

00:50:46ill.

00:50:47But

00:50:47nothing

00:50:48else.

00:50:49there is

00:50:51the matter

00:50:52of the

00:50:53deserting.

00:50:55What?

00:50:56Sir,

00:50:56she has

00:50:57this fear

00:50:57that one

00:50:58day I

00:50:59leave her

00:50:59and go,

00:51:00take the

00:51:01children,

00:51:01go back

00:51:01to Malta.

00:51:02It's

00:51:03crazy.

00:51:04She knows

00:51:05I am a

00:51:06good Catholic.

00:51:07For me,

00:51:08the family

00:51:08is sacred.

00:51:09It's crazy.

00:51:11So there

00:51:12were some

00:51:12marital

00:51:13anxieties,

00:51:14but no

00:51:14sign of

00:51:14any

00:51:15psychotic

00:51:15delusion.

00:51:17And then

00:51:17she had

00:51:18this of

00:51:19the sleep

00:51:20talking.

00:51:20Oh,

00:51:20yes.

00:51:21Now,

00:51:21what about

00:51:21that?

00:51:22Sir,

00:51:23she say

00:51:24Davy and

00:51:24Maria,

00:51:25they speak

00:51:26between each

00:51:27other in

00:51:28the night

00:51:29while they

00:51:29sleep.

00:51:30So she

00:51:30told us.

00:51:31I don't

00:51:32believe.

00:51:33But I

00:51:33mean,

00:51:33you must

00:51:34have heard

00:51:34them,

00:51:35though.

00:51:35I

00:51:35heard talk,

00:51:36but I

00:51:37think it's

00:51:38just dreaming.

00:51:40Just

00:51:40nightmares.

00:51:41Well,

00:51:41you'd never

00:51:41listen,

00:51:42would you?

00:51:43Now,

00:51:43that's

00:51:43enough.

00:51:45So,

00:51:45Mr.

00:51:46Spiteri,

00:51:46the imaginings

00:51:47of an

00:51:47over-anxious

00:51:48mother.

00:51:49And the

00:51:50way she

00:51:50keep the

00:51:51twins,

00:51:52huh?

00:51:52So strict.

00:51:54No going

00:51:54out.

00:51:55No other

00:51:56children.

00:51:57Not going

00:51:58to baby

00:51:58school.

00:51:59Not even

00:52:00wanting to

00:52:01leave the

00:52:01children with

00:52:02me,

00:52:03their father.

00:52:04This is

00:52:04not crazy.

00:52:05Oh,

00:52:06not perhaps

00:52:06by the

00:52:07standards of

00:52:07an over-possessive

00:52:08mother.

00:52:09In Malta,

00:52:10they don't

00:52:10do this.

00:52:12Oh,

00:52:12come,

00:52:12Mr.

00:52:12Spiteri,

00:52:13no possessive

00:52:13mothers in

00:52:14Malta?

00:52:14It's not

00:52:15normal thing.

00:52:17Well,

00:52:17a mother who

00:52:17even rejected

00:52:19the recommendations

00:52:19of a doctor

00:52:20in order to

00:52:20keep her

00:52:21children with...

00:52:21What?

00:52:23The

00:52:23recommendations

00:52:24of Dr.

00:52:24Beale.

00:52:25Your wife

00:52:26refused to

00:52:27allow her

00:52:27children to

00:52:28go to the

00:52:28hospital.

00:52:29Please,

00:52:30what you

00:52:30are saying?

00:52:32You didn't

00:52:32know this?

00:52:33No.

00:52:34She only

00:52:35said the

00:52:35doctor can

00:52:36do nothing

00:52:36for them.

00:52:37Only this.

00:52:38No mention

00:52:39of hospital.

00:52:40Well,

00:52:40there you

00:52:40are,

00:52:40you see,

00:52:41Mr. Spiteri,

00:52:41an over-possessive

00:52:42mother.

00:52:43Crazy.

00:52:44Like I told

00:52:45the police,

00:52:46crazy.

00:52:48She was

00:52:49going to

00:52:49poison me

00:52:50the same

00:52:51as my

00:52:52children.

00:52:53Crazy.

00:52:54Oh,

00:52:54Lord,

00:52:55I really

00:52:55must protect.

00:52:56Yes,

00:52:56just a minute,

00:52:57Mr.

00:52:58Kumar.

00:52:59Your wife

00:53:01tried to

00:53:02poison you,

00:53:03Mr.

00:53:03Spiteri.

00:53:04Sir,

00:53:04with these

00:53:05barbiturates,

00:53:07the same

00:53:07night as

00:53:08my children.

00:53:08It was only

00:53:09to make you

00:53:10sleep.

00:53:11Be quiet.

00:53:12Now,

00:53:12this is a

00:53:13very serious

00:53:13accusation.

00:53:14Sir,

00:53:15she knows

00:53:15I am weak

00:53:16here.

00:53:17She gives

00:53:17me barbiturates,

00:53:18many pills.

00:53:20It's miracles

00:53:21how I am

00:53:22here today.

00:53:23It's miracles

00:53:24she does not

00:53:24finish me

00:53:25like she

00:53:26finishes them.

00:53:27Davy and

00:53:28Maria,

00:53:29God rest

00:53:29their souls.

00:53:31My Lord,

00:53:31Mr.

00:53:32Spiteri was

00:53:32examined by

00:53:33a police

00:53:33surgeon.

00:53:34No charges

00:53:35be brought.

00:53:35Yes,

00:53:35quite so,

00:53:36Mr.

00:53:36Kumar.

00:53:36Members of

00:53:37the jury,

00:53:37you will not

00:53:37concern yourselves

00:53:38with this

00:53:39allegation.

00:53:40Yes?

00:53:41No further

00:53:42questions,

00:53:42my Lord.

00:53:44You wish

00:53:45to...

00:53:46Only on this

00:53:47last issue,

00:53:47my Lord.

00:53:48Mr.

00:53:49Spiteri,

00:53:49I...

00:53:50Look,

00:53:51I'm sure

00:53:52that we're

00:53:52all deeply

00:53:54sympathetic about

00:53:55the tragedy

00:53:56which has

00:53:56overtaken you

00:53:57and your

00:53:57family.

00:53:58We appreciate

00:53:59your grief.

00:54:00and emotional

00:54:01strain.

00:54:03However,

00:54:04you see,

00:54:04in her evidence,

00:54:05your wife has

00:54:06already told us

00:54:06that on that

00:54:07night,

00:54:08she got

00:54:09Joe off to

00:54:10sleep nice

00:54:11and early

00:54:11so he

00:54:12wouldn't

00:54:13interfere.

00:54:15She was

00:54:15giving you

00:54:16the pills

00:54:16just so that

00:54:17you could

00:54:18get to

00:54:18sleep.

00:54:22Sure.

00:54:23Lord,

00:54:24call the

00:54:25last witness

00:54:26for the

00:54:26defense,

00:54:27Father

00:54:27Attard.

00:54:28and will

00:54:32you kindly

00:54:32tell us,

00:54:32Father,

00:54:33what happened

00:54:34on that

00:54:34first visit

00:54:35to the

00:54:35Spiteri

00:54:35household

00:54:36here in

00:54:36Forchester.

00:54:38Immediately,

00:54:39upon my

00:54:40arrival,

00:54:41I sensed

00:54:42the presence

00:54:42of evil

00:54:43in the house.

00:54:44Really?

00:54:44How?

00:54:45For a man

00:54:46of my calling,

00:54:47there are

00:54:47signs.

00:54:47you, sir,

00:54:49must have

00:54:50the sense

00:54:51for deceit

00:54:51to smell

00:54:52out the

00:54:52truth from

00:54:53lies,

00:54:54so it is

00:54:54that a man

00:54:54of God

00:54:55must have

00:54:56the sense

00:54:56for evil.

00:54:58I see.

00:54:59I think

00:55:00you do not,

00:55:01sir.

00:55:01Oh?

00:55:02Forgive me,

00:55:03but here

00:55:04the ways

00:55:04of your

00:55:05church,

00:55:06the Maltese

00:55:07people still

00:55:08hear the words

00:55:09of God.

00:55:10They are

00:55:10still united

00:55:11in the fight

00:55:12against the

00:55:12forces of

00:55:13the devil.

00:55:13Yes.

00:55:17So,

00:55:17you sensed

00:55:19the presence

00:55:19of evil?

00:55:20Yes.

00:55:22Just as I

00:55:22had before

00:55:23with David

00:55:24and Maria.

00:55:25Before?

00:55:26Excuse me,

00:55:26when was that?

00:55:27At the

00:55:27baptism.

00:55:28Ah.

00:55:30Then it

00:55:30was not so

00:55:31strong.

00:55:31I was

00:55:32unsure.

00:55:33The voices

00:55:34had not

00:55:35then found

00:55:35tongue in

00:55:36them.

00:55:36They had

00:55:37by the time

00:55:37you came

00:55:38and visited

00:55:38the family

00:55:38here in

00:55:39Forchester.

00:55:39They had.

00:55:41And you

00:55:41must understand

00:55:42it was much

00:55:43mortification

00:55:44for me

00:55:44since I

00:55:45was their

00:55:45spiritual

00:55:45father in

00:55:46Christ.

00:55:47Their

00:55:47godfather.

00:55:48I had

00:55:49the responsibility

00:55:49for their

00:55:50souls.

00:55:51And here,

00:55:52here,

00:55:53I found

00:55:54them in

00:55:54the possession

00:55:55of demons.

00:55:56How were

00:55:57you so

00:55:57sure,

00:55:58apart from

00:55:58this sense

00:55:59of things?

00:55:59The possessors

00:56:00were talking

00:56:01through them.

00:56:03In their

00:56:03sleep?

00:56:04At night,

00:56:05when else?

00:56:06But I

00:56:06mean,

00:56:06what you

00:56:07heard could

00:56:07have been

00:56:07simple sleep

00:56:08talking.

00:56:09Oh,

00:56:10such words,

00:56:11from innocent,

00:56:12such wantonness,

00:56:13such blasphemy,

00:56:14such pleas for

00:56:16death and

00:56:17destruction.

00:56:18But what

00:56:19words?

00:56:21The words of

00:56:21the devil.

00:56:23Such as?

00:56:24You ask me?

00:56:25Yes!

00:56:26A minister of

00:56:27God to repeat

00:56:27such things,

00:56:28such heresy?

00:56:29Well,

00:56:30were they,

00:56:31or did they

00:56:32seem to you,

00:56:34to be conversing

00:56:35with each other?

00:56:37There was one

00:56:37of a male sex,

00:56:39one of a female

00:56:40sex, laughing,

00:56:42mocking,

00:56:43swearing.

00:56:44Naturally,

00:56:45they heard each

00:56:45other.

00:56:46Devils are not

00:56:46deaf.

00:56:47Yes, but surely

00:56:47it went to...

00:56:47You doubt,

00:56:48of course,

00:56:49but forgive me.

00:56:51I am familiar

00:56:52with such things

00:56:53as this.

00:56:53How familiar?

00:56:54As a young man

00:56:55visiting in

00:56:56Calabria,

00:56:56I witnessed the

00:56:57torments of the

00:56:58women, the

00:56:59machiara,

00:57:00who are possessed

00:57:01of demons.

00:57:02My lord,

00:57:02I thought this man

00:57:03was called as a

00:57:04witness to the

00:57:05accused state of

00:57:06mind.

00:57:07Yes, but also

00:57:07to indicate that

00:57:08she was subjected

00:57:09to the things

00:57:10she described

00:57:10and is not

00:57:11making them up,

00:57:12as is suggested,

00:57:13as part of a

00:57:14deliberate device

00:57:14to escape trial.

00:57:15I'll hold a

00:57:16seance and be

00:57:17done with it.

00:57:18Oh, do,

00:57:18let's get on.

00:57:21Father,

00:57:22can you tell us

00:57:23how it was that

00:57:24these children

00:57:25came to be

00:57:25possessed?

00:57:26I mean,

00:57:27they'd been

00:57:28baptised,

00:57:29dedicated to

00:57:29Christ,

00:57:31their godfather

00:57:31was a priest...

00:57:32The mother?

00:57:34How?

00:57:35She had sinned,

00:57:36she had seduced

00:57:38this man into

00:57:38a union outside

00:57:39his own community.

00:57:40At the marriage,

00:57:41she refused to

00:57:42take his faith,

00:57:42she refused confession,

00:57:44the holy sacraments,

00:57:45absolution.

00:57:46She was not in

00:57:47a state of grace.

00:57:49At the baptism,

00:57:50she refused to

00:57:50pray.

00:57:51And then,

00:57:52when I went to

00:57:52the second time

00:57:53to Fulchester,

00:57:54to save the

00:57:55children,

00:57:55David and Maria,

00:57:56to save them

00:57:57with prayer and

00:57:58the holy rites

00:57:59of exorcism,

00:58:00then,

00:58:01then,

00:58:02the devil

00:58:03entered into

00:58:04her also to

00:58:05shout with her

00:58:05mouth to provoke

00:58:07her to throw

00:58:08over the candles

00:58:09to raise their

00:58:10hand against

00:58:11the minister of

00:58:12God.

00:58:13I see.

00:58:14And then,

00:58:15God save her,

00:58:17to provoke her

00:58:18further,

00:58:19to poison

00:58:20her own children.

00:58:21Yes, well,

00:58:22thank you,

00:58:22Father.

00:58:23You can see that

00:58:24this tormented

00:58:24Christian woman

00:58:25can have drawn

00:58:26scant comfort

00:58:27from your visit.

00:58:27well,

00:58:35if not comfort,

00:58:36Father,

00:58:36she certainly

00:58:37drew something

00:58:37from your visits,

00:58:39didn't she?

00:58:40A bizarre gimmick

00:58:41for her subsequent

00:58:43pretense of madness

00:58:44and delusions.

00:58:46Please.

00:58:47You see,

00:58:47Father,

00:58:48this woman is now

00:58:48pretending she's mad.

00:58:50She's saying,

00:58:51among other things,

00:58:52that David and Maria

00:58:53are not actually dead.

00:58:54But I myself

00:58:56performed the last

00:58:57rites at the Church

00:58:58of the Holy Trinity.

00:58:59Well,

00:59:00in your dealings

00:59:01with Mrs. Spiteri,

00:59:02did she strike you

00:59:03in any way

00:59:04as insane?

00:59:05Oh,

00:59:05this word.

00:59:07Mentally deranged,

00:59:09hallucinating,

00:59:10acutely depressed.

00:59:11Forgive me,

00:59:12but in this time

00:59:13such words

00:59:14are so much

00:59:14the fashions,

00:59:15the weakness

00:59:16of the flesh

00:59:17is condoned

00:59:17as compulsion,

00:59:18sense of guilt

00:59:19for past sins

00:59:20is treated

00:59:21as a disease.

00:59:22Your people,

00:59:23they run,

00:59:23now,

00:59:24to doctors

00:59:25for absolution.

00:59:26Yes,

00:59:26but did Mrs. Spiteri

00:59:27strike you...

00:59:28I have said before

00:59:29the devil

00:59:30came into her.

00:59:31She had sinned,

00:59:32she had rejected

00:59:33the state of grace.

00:59:36No doubt

00:59:36you will find

00:59:37your doctors

00:59:38to pronounce her

00:59:39sick in the head,

00:59:40but it is her soul

00:59:43that is stricken.

00:59:45Her soul.

00:59:47Yes,

00:59:48I see.

00:59:51You may leave

00:59:52the witness box.

00:59:52You can go

00:59:53if you like.

00:59:56That concludes

00:59:56the case

00:59:57for the defence,

00:59:58my lord.

00:59:59My lord,

00:59:59I have only

01:00:00one witness,

01:00:01Dr. Beale.

01:00:02So, as well as being

01:00:26a consultant

01:00:27in child psychiatry,

01:00:28you are also

01:00:29fully qualified

01:00:30in the adult field.

01:00:31Yes, yes,

01:00:32I am a doctor of medicine

01:00:33and a member

01:00:33of the Royal College

01:00:34of Psychiatry, yes.

01:00:36And essentially

01:00:36so too.

01:00:37I'm sorry?

01:00:39Well, so often

01:00:39the quirks of the parents

01:00:40are visited upon the child.

01:00:42Oh, I see.

01:00:42So you're watchful

01:00:43for the...

01:00:44For the problem parent.

01:00:45Exactly.

01:00:47So, in fact,

01:00:48although it was

01:00:49officially

01:00:50the Spiteri twins

01:00:51who were your patients,

01:00:52you were simultaneously

01:00:53assessing the personality

01:00:56of their mother,

01:00:57the accused.

01:00:58Yes.

01:00:59Yes, increasingly so,

01:01:00in fact.

01:01:01Yes?

01:01:03Well, I concluded

01:01:03it was external factors,

01:01:05the home environment,

01:01:06in fact,

01:01:07which were chiefly

01:01:08responsible for

01:01:09the twins' condition.

01:01:10Would you please

01:01:11explain that?

01:01:12Certainly, certainly.

01:01:13Mark you,

01:01:14some of the bright suggestions

01:01:15I found on this

01:01:16Spiteri case file.

01:01:18Well, let us just say

01:01:19I found myself

01:01:20at variance

01:01:20with some of the observations

01:01:22made by the

01:01:22Child Guidance Clinic.

01:01:24I mean, it was obvious

01:01:25straight away

01:01:26that the children

01:01:26were not autistic.

01:01:27You could see that

01:01:28straight away

01:01:28from the way

01:01:29they handle symbols.

01:01:31For all their reluctance,

01:01:33David and Maria

01:01:34were perfectly capable

01:01:35of communication.

01:01:37Now, as for retarded,

01:01:38well, on the BNA

01:01:39intelligence scale,

01:01:40they were potentially

01:01:41a year or more

01:01:42in advance

01:01:43of their actual age.

01:01:45Now, I also

01:01:46identified

01:01:47exceptional

01:01:47mnemonic faculties.

01:01:49Please.

01:01:50Mnemonic?

01:01:51The ability to memorize.

01:01:53Oh, yes?

01:01:54Yes.

01:01:54They were potentially

01:01:55a very bright little couple.

01:01:57Senses all very well developed.

01:01:59Hearing, sight,

01:02:00coordination.

01:02:01No organic defects at all.

01:02:03No, I mean,

01:02:04they were a little

01:02:04highly strung,

01:02:05but that was only

01:02:06to be expected

01:02:06where they're a high mental age.

01:02:08Doctor, one moment, please.

01:02:10We've heard

01:02:11that you recommended

01:02:12that these children

01:02:12should be treated

01:02:13at a hospital

01:02:14for the subnormal.

01:02:15Now, is that correct?

01:02:17It is, yes.

01:02:18And yet,

01:02:18here you are now

01:02:19telling us that they

01:02:20were not subnormal.

01:02:21Quite the contrary.

01:02:22Potentially to the contrary.

01:02:24Don't let us get confused.

01:02:25Oh, but I am.

01:02:26Ah.

01:02:27Well, their behavior

01:02:28was far from normal.

01:02:30Both children

01:02:31were excessively

01:02:31disturbed, in fact.

01:02:33Negative and withdrawn.

01:02:35Incontinent.

01:02:36Capable of erratic

01:02:37outbursts,

01:02:38tantrums.

01:02:38Most, most disturbing.

01:02:39But not an organic

01:02:40disturbance.

01:02:41Nope, nope.

01:02:43Although they behaved

01:02:44subnormally,

01:02:45you decided

01:02:45that they weren't.

01:02:46Well, the pathogenesis

01:02:47was external,

01:02:49provoked by their environment.

01:02:50Surroundings.

01:02:51Ergo,

01:02:52by changing that environment,

01:02:54I hoped to relieve

01:02:55the condition.

01:02:56Yeah.

01:02:57Of course,

01:02:57I would have preferred

01:02:58to send them

01:02:58to one of the special schools

01:02:59which cater for this

01:03:00type of child,

01:03:01but unfortunately,

01:03:02at the time,

01:03:03the only vacancies

01:03:03were in the rehabilitation

01:03:04wing of the hospital.

01:03:05Yes, I see.

01:03:06Thank you, yes.

01:03:07So, in effect,

01:03:08their cure,

01:03:08as you saw it,

01:03:09was to get them

01:03:10away from their mother.

01:03:11Yes.

01:03:13Well, from what I could gather,

01:03:14she'd had a pretty

01:03:15disturbed childhood herself

01:03:16over strict parents,

01:03:18emotionally deprived.

01:03:20The result,

01:03:21the usual paradox,

01:03:23a craving for

01:03:24love and affection

01:03:25and yet inhibited

01:03:26against expressing it herself.

01:03:29Similarly,

01:03:30there emerged

01:03:30there were a lot

01:03:31of domestic tensions,

01:03:33cash worries,

01:03:34job problems.

01:03:35Cultural disparities.

01:03:37Welsh wife,

01:03:38Maltese husband.

01:03:40A lot of rowing

01:03:41going on in the home,

01:03:41even some violence.

01:03:43And there again,

01:03:45she herself tended

01:03:45to be very neurotic

01:03:46about the children.

01:03:48She had a fetish

01:03:48about cleanliness,

01:03:50discipline,

01:03:50their health.

01:03:51Almost unsatisfactory.

01:03:53You say neurotic,

01:03:54doctor.

01:03:54Would you go further

01:03:55and describe her behavior

01:03:56as psychotic?

01:03:58No,

01:03:59I would not.

01:04:00She was not psychotic?

01:04:01No.

01:04:02And then,

01:04:03when you examined her

01:04:04last month

01:04:04in the prison hospital,

01:04:06psychotic then?

01:04:08No.

01:04:09Disturbed,

01:04:10yes.

01:04:11Inclined to be depressed.

01:04:12Well,

01:04:13naturally,

01:04:13in view of the circumstances.

01:04:14But not psychotic?

01:04:16No.

01:04:17Delusions?

01:04:18Well,

01:04:20she denied

01:04:20that the twins were dead.

01:04:22However,

01:04:24yes,

01:04:25I concluded

01:04:27this was a conscious lie.

01:04:28she'd fixed on all this

01:04:31spiritual possession idea.

01:04:33Well,

01:04:33I mean,

01:04:33that was a natural extension

01:04:34to her cleanliness fetish,

01:04:36her thing

01:04:36about contamination.

01:04:40Yes,

01:04:40her thing about contamination.

01:04:42But it was apparent to me

01:04:43that she had fixed on

01:04:44this possession idea

01:04:45as a cover,

01:04:47as an excuse

01:04:48for her actions.

01:04:49as an excuse.

01:04:51Yes.

01:04:51And one which she was acting up

01:04:53for the benefit

01:04:54of her psychotherapist.

01:04:55She was acting it up.

01:04:58Thank you,

01:04:59Doctor.

01:05:02Dr. Beale.

01:05:06Oh.

01:05:06You did not examine

01:05:10Mrs. Pateri

01:05:11immediately after she was

01:05:12taken into custody

01:05:13last August.

01:05:14No,

01:05:14no.

01:05:15Hmm?

01:05:15Did you,

01:05:16Dr. Beale?

01:05:17No.

01:05:18No.

01:05:21In fact,

01:05:22you saw her

01:05:23only the once

01:05:24in the hospital.

01:05:25Yes.

01:05:26Yes?

01:05:26Mm-hmm.

01:05:27Yes.

01:05:29And that after

01:05:30she'd been under

01:05:30intensive treatment

01:05:32from Dr. Morton here

01:05:33for fully seven months.

01:05:34Hardly intensive.

01:05:35No.

01:05:3720 therapeutic sessions?

01:05:40Including the use

01:05:40of antidepressant drugs?

01:05:42An electroconvulsive therapy

01:05:44to combat mutism

01:05:45and retrospective amnesia?

01:05:46Well, perhaps, but...

01:05:47With respect, Doctor.

01:05:50I suggest you're basing

01:05:51a great deal

01:05:52on assumptions.

01:05:53And those formed

01:05:54nearly a year earlier

01:05:56when you were treating

01:05:56the children.

01:05:57Now, look, um...

01:05:59Yes, um,

01:06:01a minute, Doctor.

01:06:02Did Mrs. Pateri

01:06:03ever mention anything

01:06:04to you

01:06:05about her

01:06:05children sleep-talking?

01:06:08Well, um, certainly.

01:06:09When I visited her afterwards

01:06:10in the prison hospital...

01:06:11No, no, no, no, no.

01:06:12I mean before that,

01:06:12when she brought

01:06:14the twins to your clinic.

01:06:15No, she said

01:06:16they slept badly,

01:06:17were extremely restless,

01:06:18that was all.

01:06:19Really?

01:06:20Not that sleep-talking

01:06:21would have been so unusual.

01:06:23Oh, really?

01:06:25Well, from what we've

01:06:26heard from the accused

01:06:28and from an independent witness,

01:06:30the whole phenomenon

01:06:31sounds extremely unusual

01:06:33and perhaps relevant

01:06:34to this case,

01:06:35or at least to the accused's

01:06:36alleged delusions

01:06:37about the influence

01:06:40of the supernatural

01:06:41over her two children.

01:06:43Well, I mean...

01:06:44Really?

01:06:44No, no, no, no, no.

01:06:45Shouting and swearing

01:06:47and what was it?

01:06:48Blaspheming?

01:06:49Conversing in blasphemous?

01:06:50Words of the devil?

01:06:52Pleas for death

01:06:53and destruction

01:06:54is this usual

01:06:54in five-year-olds,

01:06:56in sleeping five-year-olds?

01:06:58Well, not usual, of course.

01:06:59Have you encountered it before

01:07:01amongst your young patients?

01:07:03Well, not in this specific form,

01:07:04but certainly sleep-talking.

01:07:06It's quite frequent

01:07:07among children

01:07:08who are under intense stress

01:07:09and quite simple to rationalise.

01:07:12Now, children,

01:07:13exposed to a very tense

01:07:14and disturbed home situation,

01:07:16that is a reality

01:07:17from which the infant mind

01:07:18would naturally seek to withdraw,

01:07:20as indeed the Spateri twins did.

01:07:23into silences

01:07:24and negative behaviour patterns.

01:07:26But, of course,

01:07:27their subconscious anxieties

01:07:29could well have found

01:07:30this vocal form of expression by night.

01:07:32Ergo, sleep-talking.

01:07:33Except, Doctor,

01:07:34that they seem to have been conversing,

01:07:36holding a conversation

01:07:37one with the other.

01:07:38Ah, but twins...

01:07:39Twins!

01:07:41A highly developed interrelationship,

01:07:43probably effective even at sleep levels.

01:07:45Ergo, mutual communication.

01:07:47Except again, Doctor,

01:07:48that they did so, we are told,

01:07:50in adult language,

01:07:52swearing and blaspheming.

01:07:53Well, both children were, of course,

01:07:54excessively disturbed.

01:07:56Yes, but adult, Doctor,

01:07:57far in excess of a maturity

01:07:58of five years old.

01:08:00Mental age of six or seven.

01:08:01Even so.

01:08:02And don't forget,

01:08:02these two spent almost

01:08:04their entire waking lives

01:08:05in front of the television set.

01:08:07It's the only way

01:08:07their mother could cope with them.

01:08:08So, now there you are,

01:08:11daily exposed to a mass

01:08:12of random information,

01:08:14much of it adult,

01:08:15and on the newscasts,

01:08:16concerning violence

01:08:17and destruction.

01:08:19Now, add to this,

01:08:20their high mnemonic faculties,

01:08:22memories.

01:08:23And there you have it.

01:08:25They absorbed all this

01:08:26random adult information by day.

01:08:29They had a need for expression by night.

01:08:31Voila.

01:08:31Oh, Doctor Beale,

01:08:33you disappoint me.

01:08:34Oh, really?

01:08:36You dispel illusions.

01:08:38If not the accused's delusions.

01:08:41Hey, Mr. Lotterby.

01:08:44Thank you, Doctor.

01:08:45As Dr. Morton has explained,

01:08:50Mrs. Spiteri's psychosis,

01:08:52though latent,

01:08:54would still have needed

01:08:54a situation of acute stress

01:08:57to bring it up.

01:08:59Now, ladies and gentlemen,

01:09:01you've seen for yourselves

01:09:02that this poor woman

01:09:04was clearly exposed

01:09:05to abundant stress.

01:09:08Financial worries.

01:09:09Twins increasingly ill.

01:09:11Rouse, even beatings

01:09:12from her husband.

01:09:12A foreign priest

01:09:14of an alien denomination,

01:09:15making her feel like

01:09:16a social and religious pariah.

01:09:18And then,

01:09:19then this horrendous phenomenon

01:09:22of a children's nightly sleep talking.

01:09:27Another factor

01:09:28guaranteed to confirm

01:09:30in her tormented mind

01:09:32the conviction

01:09:33that they were indeed

01:09:35possessed of demons.

01:09:37No wonder she had delusions.

01:09:40No wonder,

01:09:40and this is the crux

01:09:43of the matter.

01:09:46She believes

01:09:47that far from harming

01:09:50her beloved children,

01:09:52she saved them.

01:09:54But they're still alive.

01:09:57You heard the woman

01:09:58for yourselves.

01:10:00Lucid,

01:10:01cogent,

01:10:02articulate,

01:10:03pathetic,

01:10:04of course.

01:10:04no one is denying

01:10:05the tragedy

01:10:06of her circumstances.

01:10:08But do not let this

01:10:09confuse your judgment

01:10:10as to her true mental state.

01:10:14Do not let her deceive you

01:10:15with all this bizarre talk

01:10:17of saving her children

01:10:18from evil demons.

01:10:21Do not let her deceive you

01:10:23as she appears to have deceived

01:10:24her psychotherapist.

01:10:25this woman would have you believe

01:10:29that she thinks

01:10:29her children are still alive.

01:10:32But I put it to you

01:10:33that her attempted suicide

01:10:34in the prison hospital

01:10:36would suggest

01:10:36that she is fully aware

01:10:38of her children's death.

01:10:40As you know,

01:10:42members of the jury,

01:10:44you are not called upon

01:10:45to decide whether or not

01:10:46the accused is guilty

01:10:47of any crime.

01:10:49You are assembled here

01:10:50to decide

01:10:51whether she is capable

01:10:53of understanding the charge,

01:10:55instructing her lawyers,

01:10:56following the evidence.

01:10:57Now her counsel says

01:10:58that she isn't

01:10:59because she is suffering

01:11:00from the delusion

01:11:00that her children

01:11:02are still alive.

01:11:04Well this being so,

01:11:05he says again,

01:11:06how could she explain

01:11:07the circumstances

01:11:09of their death?

01:11:10whether it was intentional,

01:11:11whether it was an accident.

01:11:12And if,

01:11:13he says further,

01:11:14she cannot explain this,

01:11:16how then can she defend herself

01:11:17against the charge

01:11:18that she intentionally

01:11:19killed her children?

01:11:22Well,

01:11:22you may think

01:11:23there is some force in this.

01:11:25The prosecution contested.

01:11:28They say that she is

01:11:28perfectly well aware

01:11:29that her children are dead

01:11:30and that she is lying

01:11:31when she says she isn't.

01:11:33They say that she isn't

01:11:34and never was suffering

01:11:35from a mental disorder

01:11:37such as the defence claim.

01:11:38Well,

01:11:39you must decide.

01:11:41Now,

01:11:41in this trial,

01:11:42unusually,

01:11:44the onus is on the defence

01:11:45to prove,

01:11:47on the balance of probabilities,

01:11:49that the accused

01:11:50is unfit to plead.

01:11:52They must satisfy you

01:11:54of this.

01:11:55If they don't,

01:11:57then your verdict

01:11:58must be

01:11:59that the accused

01:11:59is fit to plead.

01:12:01will you now

01:12:03please retire,

01:12:04consider your verdict,

01:12:05let the jury bailiff

01:12:06be sworn.

01:12:11Members of the jury,

01:12:12will your foreman

01:12:12please stand?

01:12:14Just answer this question,

01:12:16yes or no.

01:12:17Have you reached a verdict

01:12:18upon which you are

01:12:19all agreed?

01:12:20Yes.

01:12:21Do you find the prisoner,

01:12:22Megwin Glynis Piteri,

01:12:24fit or unfit

01:12:25to plead to the charge

01:12:26of murder?

01:12:28Fit.

01:12:28Is that the verdict

01:12:29of you all?

01:12:30It is.

01:12:32Thank you,

01:12:32members of the jury.

01:12:34You are discharged

01:12:35from further duties

01:12:36in this case.

01:12:37I understand

01:12:38that next Monday

01:12:38will be a convenient date

01:12:39for the trial,

01:12:40so the hearing of the case

01:12:41is fixed for that date.

01:12:43Court will rise.

01:13:00for the trial,

01:13:00the trial is done.

01:13:02The trial is fixed ici,

01:13:02it is.

01:13:02Yes and the trial is fixed,

01:13:05and it is at the time

01:13:07that the trial is fixed.

01:13:09We shall see you

01:13:10in this case.

01:13:10All right.

01:13:12We shall see you

01:13:13in this case.

01:13:14It is.

01:13:15You

Crown Court - Possessed (1975)

Category

Transcript

Recommended