Jerusalem mother accused of murdering children may not face trial because of insanity plea

Woman accused of murdering her two children over Rosh Hashanah holiday may not be mentally fit to stand trial.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Murder suspect Carina Brill 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Murder suspect Carina Brill 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
The Jerusalem District Court on Thursday heard arguments from the prosecution and the defense on the issue of whether Carina Brill, the Jerusalem mother accused of murdering her two children in September, is fit to stand trial.
She may be institutionalized following an insanity plea.
The defense complained that Brill had been rushed from the hospital to prison too early and that she was highly unstable mentally – which was shown by the prison’s decision to send her back to the hospital.
The defense said that it has started a process for its own psychologist to evaluate Brill and that the process is in high gear.
The prosecution said it is also having its own psychologist examine Brill, but added that an overall answer would take time as the psychologists need mental health records from Russia, where Brill lived until making aliya this past year.
The court ordered another hearing on the issue for November 21, including bringing Brill to court, who was not present on Thursday.
Brill, a 36-year-old divorcée from Moscow, was indicted on October 13 for the murder of her son Igor, seven, and her daughter, Miri, five in their Talpiot, Jerusalem, apartment.
The prosecution has asked the court to remand Brill to police custody until the end of the proceedings; the court will rule on Tuesday.