Mount Carmel CEO Stephanie Xuereb testified in court to state that Abner Aquilina, accused of raping and murdering Paulina Dembska, threatened and harassed nurses whilst at Mount Carmel.
Aquilina has reportedly been moved to the forensic division of Corradino Correctional Facilities, which is run by prison authorities despite being in the Attard Hospital.
This was also reportedly the first time that Mount Carmel opened a court procedure to restrict a patient from receiving care.
The transfer decision had been taken after Aquilina allegedly threatened a male charge nurse and became a danger to other patients.
During the compilation of evidence, the defence asked how Aquilina was moved to the Forensic Unit and demanded that he be returned to a regular ward.
Aquilina had reportedly been receiving adequate progress but the unit did not offer the same level of care. Although the hospital was not run on an ‘open door’ policy, it did not have the same level of security as the Forensic Unit.
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