The mother of the man accused
of stabbing his baby daughter to death in her bed said she was
frightened by her son's psychiatric problems, according to
reports Tuesday.
Police said little after interviewing the mother of
18-month old Alessia, who was stabbed to death Sunday afternoon
in what authorities say was a fit of madness on the part of Luca
Giustini, 34.
Brunella Michelini, mother of the accused, said her son
"was ill for some time, depressed and crying".
She said Giustini visited her shortly before the stabbing
and she feared he was considering suicide.
"We prayed together, it was as if I was saying goodbye,"
said Michelini.
Police interviewed the mother of the victim, Sara Bedini,
but did not release any information.
Giustini has a history of psychological problems and was
sent Monday for further psychiatric testing, police said.
They say a fit of madness may be the explanation after
Giustini, a train driver, allegedly attacked the baby with a
kitchen knife in their home on Italy's eastern coast in a suburb
of Ancona.
The baby was in a cradle at home alone with her father at
about 2 p.m. on Sunday, while the mother was at work as a nurse.
Giustini reportedly telephoned his wife after the stabbing
to say "I screwed up".
According to police, Giustini was too distraught to be
interrogated on Monday and could not even remain seated.
They said the man has no record of violence.
His employer, Trenitalia, on Monday called Giustini, who
was hired in 2004, an employee that was "beyond reproach", and
presented no sign of psychological disturbance during routine
drug and alcohol check-ups.
However, grave psychiatric disturbances "don't emerge out
of the blue," criminal psychiatrist and professor Francesco
Bruno told ANSA.
Severely disturbed people "may not talk about their
condition, but those who live with them know something is
wrong".
Giustini has been remanded to a psychiatric hospital, where
he is reportedly in a catatonic state under 24-hour police
watch.
Prosecutors are weighing charges of aggravated murder,
pending a psychiatric evaluation.
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