A defence lawyer has expressed disappointment after jurors convicted his client of a frenzied knife attack despite hearing two expert psychiatric opinions stating that he was legally insane at the time of the crime.

Saul Dismont believes Alan Robinson should have been acquitted of attempted murder, possessing a knife in a public place and assault on the grounds of insanity because he suffered from schizophrenia.

That verdict, he said, would have meant Robinson was sent to the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute indefinitely for treatment.

Instead, Robinson, who has been detained at Westgate since July 2013 when he was found unfit to stand trial, has been returned to prison and could remain there after he is sentenced.

“Mr Robinson has been a patient at MWI for over 30 years, with 12 admissions,” Mr Dismont said.

“He has chronic schizophrenia requiring fortnightly injections to be administered at MWI. Due to his illness, he is prone to forgetting or resisting the taking of medication, but without the medication he becomes insane.

“Four months before the offence Mr Robinson was sectioned at MWI for being insane. He was released a few weeks later.”

Robinson, 56, was found guilty this month of repeatedly stabbing Vernica Tucker and assaulting his housemate Kevin Arorash in an unprovoked act in December 2012.

He was remanded into custody and is awaiting sentence.

Mr Dismont said his priority now was to ensure Robinson received “the appropriate treatment in the appropriate setting” before he could consider appealing.

He maintains that the case proves more energy and funds need to be directed to improving the system through which mentally ill patients are treated and receive their medication.

“It is awful what happened to Ms Tucker and Mr Arorash,” Mr Dismont said. “No one should have to suffer what happened to them, but we have to consider that Mr Robinson was extremely unwell at the time.

“The psychiatrists reported that two days later he was still hearing voices and hallucinating.

“If he had been cleared by reason of insanity, Mr Robinson would have been restricted from leaving MWI but he would have been able to walk around the facility freely, participating in various programmes. He may even have been taken out for the occasional trip with a nurse. He would also have had treatment and 24-hour care.”

During Robinson’s trial, two psychiatrists from MWI both agreed that Robinson was insane at the time of the offence.

The court heard that in the lead up to the attack hospital staff had not been able to administer the medication to Robinson for three months.

Mr Dismont said: “Then within 48 hours of the incident Mr Robinson was back at MWI sectioned for being insane and, on account of being found to be mentally unfit to stand trial, he was then transferred to Westgate, where he was forced to remain in his cell with only 90 minutes out per day.”

The defence lawyer added: “The prosecution did not provide any contradictory expert evidence.

“The defence do not even have to prove insanity beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury just have to be satisfied that on the balance of probability Mr Robinson was insane at the time.

“However, the jury found that he was not insane. It might have been the first time in 30 years that anyone has ever considered Mr Robinson sane.”

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