In a dramatic shift in legal strategy, the defence team for Francesco Mangione has abandoned its psychiatric defence in the ongoing state murder trial. The reversal, announced on the third day of proceedings at the Central Criminal Court, has prompted warnings from British legal experts about the potential consequences for future cases.
Mangione, 34, is accused of the murder of Maria Kotova, a 29-year-old financial analyst, in her London flat last December. Initially, his counsel had indicated they would mount a defence of diminished responsibility, citing a history of severe depression. However, in a brief statement to the court, lead defence barrister Eleanor Whitmore said: "We withdraw the psychiatric defence. The defendant now maintains that he was not present at the scene."
The decision caught the prosecution and judiciary off guard. Mr Justice Holloway adjourned the trial for 24 hours to allow both sides to reassess their cases. Legal observers described the move as high-risk, given that the original defence had already been presented to the jury through opening statements.
Professor James Aldridge, a criminal law expert at the University of Oxford, said the reversal raised significant concerns about the integrity of the trial process. "The jury will now have to disregard the initial narrative about mental health, which was supported by expert testimony. This can create confusion and potentially prejudice the outcome. If Mangione is convicted, an appeal is almost certain on grounds of procedural irregularity."
Others fear a broader impact. Dr. Helena Croft, a barrister and legal commentator, suggested that the case could deter defendants from raising psychiatric defences in the future. "If juries become sceptical after seeing such a dramatic shift, they may reject genuine cases of diminished responsibility. This could undermine a crucial safeguard for those with severe mental illness."
The Crown Prosecution Service has declined to comment on the implications, but insiders indicate they will oppose any application to discharge the jury. The trial continues on Monday, with Mangione expected to give evidence.
The case has attracted international attention. Mangione holds dual Italian-British citizenship and had been living in London for three years. His family, prominent in Milanese business circles, have maintained a public silence.
For now, the focus is on whether the jury can compartmentalise the withdrawn defence. As one veteran court reporter observed: "The genie is out of the bottle. The question is whether they can put it back."
