Sylvestre Sablan to use insanity defense

Sylvestre Rogopes Sablan, the person of interest in the killing of his wife, Ana Maria Limes, will rely upon the defense of insanity at the time when he committed the alleged crime of criminal trespass and possession of methamphetamine or “ice” charges, according to Chief Public Defender Douglas W. Hartig.

In Sablan’s motion for examination, Hartig asked the Superior Court to appoint a psychiatrist as an expert witness who will evaluate the 43-year-old Sablan and prepare a report.

Assistant attorney general Chester Hinds, counsel for the government, did not oppose the motion.

As this developed, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio granted the motion for examination and suspended yesterday’s scheduled preliminary hearing until Sablan’s evaluation is completed.

Hartig filed the motion for examination on Wednesday, saying a psychiatrist is needed to determine whether Sablan is competent to undergo proceedings and if he was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the offense.

“Whenever a plea of not guilty by reason of mental illness, disease, or defect is entered or notice is given pursuant to the Commonwealth Rule of Criminal Procedure, the court shall appoint at least one qualified psychiatrist or other mental health professional to examine the defendant and to report upon his mental condition,” Hartig said.

He said that since Sablan has been found indigent, the law requires the government to pay for the psychiatrist.

Unlike on Wednesday, Sablan appeared subdued at the brief hearing yesterday.

On Wednesday, Kim-Tenorio postponed the preliminary hearing after Sablan acted strangely in court, mumbling and talking to himself. He said something about candles, grave, and other things.

Police detective Rudolfo Saures Hermosilla Jr. stated in his report that when a police officer arrested Sablan at 1am last April 19 for disturbing the Lisua family, he noticed what appeared to be bloodstains on Sablan’s pants. The officer also saw scratches on Sablan’s abdomen.

Hermossila said the officer and the Lisua family also noticed that Sablan was acting strangely and talking to himself.

Limes, 52, a former staff assistant of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), was found dead inside her house in Oleai on April 20 shortly after noon.

Limes showed signs of having been deceased for some time already when found, with fatal injuries to the head.

Autopsy showed that Limes dies of a skull fracture due to blunt force trauma.

As of yesterday, no charges had been filed against Sablan over the death of Limes.