HELSINKI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Abderrahman Bouanane, the suspect of the stabbing attack that killed two and wounded eight others in Turku, western Finland in August, will be subjected to a mental health review before the trial, the local court in Turku decided on Thursday.
If he is determined as not criminally responsible, he cannot be sentenced but will be ordered into involuntary mental health treatment, according to the Finnish law.
Hannu Lauerma, chief doctor of the Finnish psychiatric prison hospital, told national broadcaster Yle that terrorist suspects are not subjected to mental health reviews in all countries.
Normally psychiatric reviews are requested during the trial, but Abderrahman Bouanane will be examined mentally before the trial begins. "Thus the results are available during the preparation of charges," prosecution told Yle.
A pre-trial mental health review will also shorten the court process. In the Finnish system, the National Institute for Health and Wellbeing will decide where the investigation is arranged.
Lauerma explained that in the review a thorough psychiatric and physiological examination will be carried out and the patient will be observed 24 hours a day. The examination takes two months and determines a possible psychiatricdiagnosis.
The hospital team takes a stand on whether it has a bearing on the incident that is the basis of the charges and on whether the suspect can be held criminally responsible in terms of his health.
Charges against the suspect must be formally filed at the latest next February.
