Sofia, Bulgaria – The Sofia City Court has ruled that a 22-year-old woman accused of stabbing three men in the capital be placed under psychiatric evaluation for 30 days at the Lovech prison clinic.
The decision aims to determine whether she suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and whether she can be held legally responsible for her actions.
The suspect, identified as Nadezhda Kondeva, has a documented history of mental illness and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020.
However, she reportedly stopped taking her prescribed medication five months ago, leading to what experts describe as a severe decline in her mental health.
Kondeva’s attack took place on Vitosha Street, a bustling area in central Sofia. Armed with a knife, she targeted three men in an unprovoked assault, inflicting serious injuries before being apprehended by authorities.
Prosecutors have charged her with attempted murder, but the court has now deferred further proceedings pending the results of her psychiatric evaluation.
In a shocking courtroom statement, Kondeva expressed no remorse for her actions, declaring, “I stabbed people with a clear conscience, I was ready to kill them. I deliberately committed the attack. If I am released, this will happen again. I want a life sentence in prison.” She further insisted, “I am not a sick person. If I were free, I would do the same thing again.”
Experts evaluating Kondeva have described her as severely disoriented, aggressive, and in a psychotic state. Her relatives confirmed that she had been previously hospitalized five years ago and had struggled to maintain her treatment plan in recent months.
Medical professionals believe that her decision to stop taking her prescribed medication exacerbated her condition, leading to the violent episode.
The court’s decision to place Kondeva under medical observation is a crucial step in determining her legal culpability.
If the psychiatric assessment finds her unfit to stand trial due to severe mental illness, her case could be dismissed, and she may instead be institutionalized for treatment rather than imprisoned.
Legal and mental health experts have weighed in on the case, with some emphasizing the broader implications for mental health care in Bulgaria.
“This incident underscores the importance of consistent psychiatric treatment and the dangers of unmonitored mental illness,” said Dr. Petar Ivanov, a forensic psychiatrist.
“Patients with severe psychiatric conditions require continuous supervision and medical adherence to prevent tragic outcomes like this.”
The attack has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of Bulgaria’s mental health system, particularly concerning outpatient care for individuals diagnosed with severe conditions.
Mental health advocates argue that better support systems and monitoring could help prevent such violent incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the victims of the attack are recovering from their injuries, and authorities have assured the public that Kondeva will remain under secure observation during the course of her psychiatric assessment.
The final decision on her legal responsibility will depend on the findings of her medical evaluation, which will determine whether she faces a criminal trial or is committed to a psychiatric institution for long-term care.
The case has gripped public attention, raising questions about both the safety of the public and the treatment of individuals with severe mental illnesses in Bulgaria’s healthcare system.
The court’s ruling in the coming weeks will be closely watched as it sets a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members