Am back in #Magnotta. On the stand is Thomas Barth, psychiatrist who saw Magnotta in Berlin prison
We're just going over Barth's CV. Guy's been around. Studied in St John's Nfld. (and Toronto and Buenos Aires and Scotland) #magnotta
Barth has been at prison hospital since 2008 where he went to do PhD thesis re sexuality in prison #Magnotta
Barth specializes in forensic psychiatry as of June 2014 #Magnotta
Forensic psychiatry covers legal aspects of people with psychiatric problems. If disease related to crime #Magnotta
Have to say whether someone is sane or insane, Barth says. If people are able to be released from hosp into society. And prisoners too
Forensic expert has to prove whether convicted prisoner can be released into society, Barth says #Magnotta
Barth deals mostly with high profile cases. Most have committed serious crimes like rape, sex abuse of children, murder #Magnotta
Only do expertise on request from court or prosecution, never for the defence, Barth says #Magnotta
Has done 5 cases re criminal responsibility, Barth says. #Magnotta
Has done 60 reports re criminal diagnosis and criminal responsibility, Barth says #Magnotta
Barth met Magnotta on June 11, 2012, a week after #Magnotta's arrest. He was admitted to hospital in Berlin
Looking again at video of cop who arrested #Magnotta. Barth aware of where he was arrested and detention centre where he was brought
#Magnotta was admitted to remand prison a day after his arrest. Had to be seen within 24 hours by doc, by law, re mental and physical ?s
#Magnotta was seen by general practitioner, who noted in file that the arrest warrant mentioned schizophrenia. On suicide watch
The doctor who saw #Magnotta, didn't find any suicide ideation in him. No hallucinations. Time frame was just 10-15 minutes, tho
Barth says there are so many intakes in Berlin detention that doctor can't spend much time with inmates. Doc ordered urgent psych eval
#Magnotta was transferred to prison hospital within the prison. High security. Roughly 5,000 prisoners. Only 28 beds in psych dept
Barth said because so few beds, they can only accept the most serious psych cases. German prisons are very scary places, old, Barth says
Barth says some prisoners try to fake psych problems in order to have few weeks "vacation" from prison. So strict screening #Magnotta
Hospital therefore deals with only severe cases - people who want to hurt themselves or others. No time to deal with neurotics #Magnotta
Patient seen by one of psychiatrists before admission. But #Magnotta was sent by general doc because of media coverage and psych prob
Barth met with #magnotta in patients' library without any attending nurses
The prison hospital is very posh, private hospital, but still a prison, Barth says. In psych dept, nurses v experienced. #magnotta
Prisoners are free to roam around in psych dept - exception in entire institution. Everyone else confined to cells #Magnotta
It's a precious principle cause can't treat severely ill people if they are confined, Barth says. They have art therapy etc. Proud of it
Even have a terrorist who was under security ban and we asked govt to lift this ban so we could properly treat him, Barth says #Magnotta
Barth was aware of #magnotta case via media. He didn't feel any fear, he appeared shy when they met.
Barth wrote report June 18 2012 after #Magnotta was released and sent back to Canada. Diagnosed severe psychotic episode brought on by schiz
Suspected paranoid schizophrenia because only saw #Magnotta for a week. Is most severe diagnosis we can give, so are careful, Barth says
Would need to have observed him for 4 weeks for proper diagnosis Barth met Joel Watts, Cdn psych, in Berlin to discuss extradition#Magnotta
Watts accompanied #magnotta on military plane back to Canada. Barth gave him some meds for the flight
Arrival at Berlin airport was done in discreet manner, Barth said. Took one or two hours till plane left and couldn't leave till it did
#Magnotta was inpatient from June 11 - June 18, Barth says. Suspect schizophrenia because on arrest warrant
Barth asked #Magnotta if he was hearing voices. Is the leading symptom, he says. Magnotta said feels like has radio in head + hears voices
The doctor who saw #Magnotta for 15 - 20 mins didn't note any voices, Barth says.
#Magnotta told Barth that a man named Robin gave him steroids and was making him feel sick. Common that schizophrenic tries to hide symptoms
Barth said they can be distracted and give answer with short interruption, listening to voices telling them what to say. #Magnotta
https://twitter.com/MontgomerySue?lang=en&lang=en