Novella’s state of mind in the spotlight

THE specialist psychologist who was brought in as a defence witness in the Diego Novella murder trial this week had a difficult time convincing the judge and State prosecutors that the accused acted “strangely” and “bizarrely” on the morning he was alleged to have murdered his girlfriend.

Dr Michael West testified in the Western Cape High Court on the effects of legal and illegal drugs on the brain and provided insight into Novella’s behaviour after the incident.

The Guatemalan is accused of killing his girlfriend Gabriela Kabrins Alban at Camps Bay Retreat Hotel on July 29, 2015.

Novella claimed on the evening of July 28, he and Kabrins Alban consumed a cocktail of drugs made up of cannabis, cannabis oil and sceletium – a herb used to promote mental and emotional wellness – and that the couple was possessed by a demonic entity when the murder occurred.

However, toxicology reports revealed that no cannabis was found in the body of Kabrins Alban, only sceletium.

The accused maintains he fought with a demonic entity when his girlfriend was killed.

The State’s case is that the murder was fuelled by anger and drugs.

The couple had an argument during which the deceased called Novella a “faggot” and an “idiot”.

West, who has been a practising psychiatrist since 2014, was part of a team that evalu- ated Novella for 60 days at Valkenberg before the trial.

His testimony focused on the effects of a component of cannabis, Delta 9 THC, and how the drugs the pair took could have affected their behaviour and perceptions.

Novella testified he could not remember many of the details after he and the deceased consumed the drugs.

The State attacked West’s testimony about the effects of the drugs and Novella’s behaviour.

A barman at the hotel, Jean Nyabenda, testified Novella had played air guitar, ordered non-alcoholic drinks, wandered around aimlessly in the reception area and stared into space on the morning the alleged murder took place.

“Novella was not psychotic at the time of the incident but it does not exclude the possibility that what he was experiencing, were strange and unusual,” said West.

The State argued while Novella had acted strangely, he had made many “appropriate” decisions on the morning of July 29.

He cancelled a tennis lesson, sent texts to his sister in Guatemala, walked to a Camps Bay restaurant (where he ordered sparkling wine) and changed his clothing after the alleged murder.

The State claims these actions are indications Novella had a measure of control and cognitive ability, in contrast to his testimony that his mind had been “hijacked”.

The matter is due to resume on May 7.