“He’s a nice kid when he takes his medicine”: schizophrenic convicted of hitting his mother

Thursday October 31, a 30-year-old man, residing in Lagarrigue, appeared before the Castres court for acts of violence committed on September 22. The individual, under guardianship and a former polydrug addict, had consumed a bottle of white wine that day before hitting his mother, kicking her several times in the legs and slapping her. In front of the judges, he put things into perspective: “a slap, but not hard”, while minimizing his actions. The man also sent threatening messages to his grandmother's partner, who had defended his mother, going so far as to write: “I'm going to hurt you very much, you dirty rapist.”

Mental disorders since adolescence

Relations between this man and his mother, herself under guardianship, have been particularly strained since the death of the father four years ago. The mother, although having filed a complaint about the violence, told the court: “I did this so that he would be hospitalized, not so that he would go to prison. He is a very nice kid when he takes his medicine.” She describes a son who, as soon as he stops following his psychiatric treatment, becomes irritable, suddenly gets angry “for nothing” and frequently insults him. This journey marked by psychological disorders dates back to his adolescence: the man has been interned several times since the age of 16 and shows clear signs of imbalance as soon as he withdraws from his medical monitoring.

Arms crossed, eyes closed… at the helm, the Tarnais barely seemed present, lost in his own universe. Three psychiatric assessments were carried out in this case, which is rare. They reveal profound disorders: schizophrenia, chronic psychosis, hyperactivity, and attention deficit, disorders from which he has suffered since childhood. Psychologists noted in particular that the death of his father had marked a turning point, aggravating his already present disorders.

“An extremely complex situation”

This man's criminal record reflects a complex journey, littered with 14 convictions, most of them linked to thefts intended to finance his former addictions and to family violence. This delicate case exposes the limits of legal support in the face of psychological problems. As the prosecutor expressed it: “This is an extremely complex situation, illustrating the close link between psychological disorders and criminal behavior. The important thing here is to know what sanction to impose… but I cannot take the risk of reiteration.” The public prosecutor requested a mixed sentence of eight months in prison, including four months suspended on probation and continued detention.

The court followed these requisitions, keeping the individual in detention, while ordering a care injunction. A measure aimed at protecting him “while providing him with therapeutic supervision, until a suitable structure can be found for him”, concluded the president of the court.