Psychiatrist confirms his report in court, victim of alleged abduction to testify at a later stage

The woman, who last October was allegedly held captive inside a cave beneath Fort Ricasoli by her estranged husband, is still receiving psychiatric treatment following her ordeal and will only testify when pronounced fit to do so. When this morning criminal proceedings against Roddy Williams, the victim’s 37-year old Seychelles-born husband, continued in court, the psychiatrist who had certified Nathalie Williams as ‘currently unfit to testify’ took the witness stand to enlighten the court upon the reasons behind his pronouncement. However, before doing so, psychiatrist David Cassar pointed out that since he would be revealing sensitive information about his patient, he did not wish to testify in open court, prompting magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit to order the press and the public to leave the courtroom. Quite a while later, once the psychiatrist had testified, defence lawyer Franco Debono reiterated a request for bail arguing that Mr Williams had been in custody for three months and that the woman had no physical symptoms, but only trouble sleeping and anxiety. “From the questions posed to the psychiatrist, what it all boils down to is that this lady is having sleepless...