Filippo Ferlazzo, 32, is accused of murdering father-of-two Alika Ogorchukwu, 39, as eyewitnesses filmed the attack in Civitanova Marche, central Italy on Friday.
The man filmed beating a Nigerian street vendor to death in broad daylight claimed he was ‘not racially motivated’ as a judge probed his previous diagnosis with bipolar disorder.
Defending lawyer Roberta Bizzarri today submitted a formal request for Ferlazzo’s psychiatric report.
He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and recently spent a stint at a local psychiatric hospital, News Italy 24 reported, citing a court in his hometown Salerno.
Investigating judge Claudio Bonifazi quoted Ferlazzo’s lawyer as claiming the accused murderer ‘collaborated, apologized and made it clear that there was no racial motivation’.
Alika’s autopsy results will be published tomorrow.
The Nigerian embassy in Rome stated: ‘The incident occurred on a busy street and infront of shocked onlookers, some of whom made videos of the attack, with little or no attempt to prevent it.
Ferlazzo reportedly became infuriated when Mr Ogorchukwu told the man’s girlfriend she was beautiful, claimed Daniel Amanza, who runs the ACSIM association for immigrants in the Marche region’s Macerata province.