THE man accused of manslaughter and two counts of attempted murder after a stabbing in Westbourne last year has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Giuseppe Vittorio Zerega was accused of manslaughter in relation to the death of Fabio Menegon in Eldon Place in the early hours of June 19 last year.

The 31-year-old also faced two charges of attempted murder.

However, after the jury were sent out to deliberate the verdict on Tuesday, they found the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity on all three counts on Thursday morning.

At the time of the incident, Mr Zerega, who was living in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, was suffering from paranoia schizophrenia which affected his ability to think clearly.

Three psychiatrists all agreed, as a result of the illness, that the defendant was suffering from a defect of reasoning, however one, Dr John Sandford, believed he did know what he was doing was wrong, meaning he did not qualify for the defence of insanity.

Prosecuting, Charles Gabb told the court Mr Zerega picked up a knife from a block in the kitchen and then repeatedly stabbed Mr Menegon after he heard a female voice which said “attack Fabio or kill Fabio”.

Mr Gabb argued the defendant was not criminally insane as he told the victims he was going to kill them, showing he knew what he was doing was wrong.

The court also heard how Mr Zerega attacked Mr Menegon because he thought he was in the Mafia.

However, defence counsel Alisdair Williamson QC said Mr Zerega was a “mind completely unhinged” and he didn’t know the attacks were wrong as he said he was going to kill the victims “to save them”.

Police body worn camera footage shortly after the incident showed the defendant asking if he was real and shouting for help.

Mr Zerega also called 999 before the attacks asking for help, said he put toothpaste on his rings as someone “put a hex on him” and had bombs in his fingers.

Judge Justice Mrs Jennifer Eady DBE told jurors they had to decide, on the balance of probabilities, if Mr Zerega knew what he was doing was wrong.

And after more than a day of deliberations, the jury decided he was not guilty by reason of insanity on all three counts.

Judge Eady DBE will dispose of the case later this month.