Brazilian national, Diego Costa Silva, who cut his wife’s head off after experiencing hallucinations that she was going to harm him has been found not guilty of her murder by way of insanity.
A jury at the the Central Criminal Court returned the verdict after being instructed to find Costa Silva not guilty by way of insanity due to medical evidence which showed he had been suffering from cannabis induced psychosis when he killed Fabiole Camara De Campos, at the couple’s home in Dublin on the 4th of November 2021.
Gript reported on the final day of the trial yesterday details of two consultant psychiatrists who said that psychosis had led Diego Costa Silva to believe that his wife was possessed by a serpent and was going to harm him.
After beating De Campos on the head with a mug, strangling, and stabbing her, Costa Silva removed her head to “make sure” that the ‘serpent’ was dead, the Court heard.
Both psychiatrists agreed that his psychosis was not due to acute intoxication of cannabis, but a more persistent illness of cannabis-induced psychosis.
The accused displayed psychotic symptoms eleven days after he was arrested and detained in connection with his wife’s death.
Reporting on the trial for Gript, Maria Maynes wrote: Speaking before the trial, Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Mark Joynt said that cannabis-induced psychosis is classified a mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. They agreed that as a result of the disorder, Mr Costa Silva did not understand the nature and quality of his actions, and was not aware that what he was doing was wrong.
Fabiole Camara De Campos was 32-years-old and had come to Ireland five years before her death.
Daniela Loyarte, who knew De Campos Silva for twenty years, described her as “amazing,” and said she was “a blessed girl and so devoted to God.”
“Fabiole was very loved by all her knew her,” Loyarte said, adding: “A very sensible person, fearing God, honest, a good listener, and [she] would do anything for anyone.”
“Fabiole was an amazing woman – strong, very dedicated, passionate, and the best sister friend I had,” adding that the Brazilian native was “a special friend, special sister, and special daughter.” At the time of her death, Fabiole wanted to save money to buy a house in the future and build a family.
Her family and friends in Sao Paulo said at the time that they were “immensely grateful” for support as they asked “that everyone continue to pray for our dearly and eternal friend’s soul.”