Man found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity

A Dublin man has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for the attempted murder of a woman he believed was ‘poisoning’ the mind of his wife.

Lateef Bello (42) from Pheasants Run in Clonee, Dublin 15 pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the attempted murder of Adejoke Opesusi at Littleplace by reason of insanity more than two years ago.

He was also found not guilty by reason of insanity to burglary, criminal damage, endangerment and assault causing harm.

The three-day trial heard that, Mr Bello who is originally from the Ivory Coast in Africa, had formed the belief that his wife was having an affair.

Mr Bello, who has lived in Ireland for nine years, returned to his home in Clonee on the 19th of February 2012 after working as a taxi driver.

The jury heard that at 4.30am, he embarked on a ‘continuum’ of offences culminating in his gaining entry into the house of Adejoke Opesusi who he believed had convinced his wife to have an affair.

He then attacked Mrs Opesusi, stabbing her repeatedly with two separate knives and attempting to choke her. Hearing the approach of gardaí, Mr Bello then left through a first floor bedroom window but was soon caught by gardaí.

The court heard previously that a few weeks prior to the incident, Mr Bello had made threats to his wife Elizabeth that he would stab himself.

After a two month period at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum following his arrest, Mr Bello was diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.

The jury of seven men and five women return a unanimous decision after two hours and 51 minutes.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jury for their time exempting them from jury service for five years.