Valium / Diazepam News Blog

ONE of the eight men implicated in the death of cruise passenger Dianne Brimble was being treated for psychiatric and sexual disorders.

His demeanour has been described as narcissistic and erratic, with compulsive nervous twitches.

Mr Silvestri, then 38, also took medication for travel sickness, mixing this cocktail of drugs with alcohol. Witnesses claimed he had bragged about bringing cocaine and ecstasy on to the ship.

In the wake of the inquiry, relatives of Mrs Brimble will lobby the Federal Government for tighter controls on the cruise industry, including measures to improve security and passenger safety.

"I just knew there was this fat thing laying in my bed."

It is alleged some members of Mr Silvestri's group consumed the illegal drug gamma-hydroxy butyrate (GHB), commonly known as "fantasy", the drug that killed Mrs Brimble.

Police and fellow cruise passengers have repeatedly described Mr Silvestri's unpredictable behaviour.

Senior Constable Victor Rulewski, who interviewed Mr Silvestri in September, 2002, told the court Mr Silvestri gave the impression of having been a drug user.

"He was biting his lower lip, and his mouth was going from side to side. His tongue was coming out occasionally," Constable Rulewski said.

Psychiatrist Louise Newman said Mr Silvestri's behaviour was consistent with that of a drug user suffering from withdrawal.

Dr Newman, chair of the NSW branch of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists, told The Sunday Telegraph: "It's a pretty punishing combination of drugs."

In a transcript of his interview in the wake of Mrs Brimble's death, Mr Silvestri admitted having taken prescribed diazepam (Valium), sleeping tablets and Viagra as well as Travacalm.

Diazepam, which is addictive, is used to treat psychoneuroses such as anxiety, aggression and mania.

Mr Silvestri said he had taken three sleeping pills on the night of the incident and alluded to taking other drugs.

When asked if he had taken Valium on the night of the incident, he replied: "Not that night, no. I had something ... but yeah."

He said he was drinking Southern Comfort and Coke but was only a social drinker.

Mr Silvestri admitted he may have given a Viagra tablet to his room mate Mark Wilhelm, who was allegedly having sex with Mrs Brimble earlier that morning.

He did not recollect sexual contact with Mrs Brimble but said he was told she "helped herself to me".

This appears to contradict the testimony of Joanne Muller, who was staying in the neighbouring cabin.

Mrs Muller said she attempted to move her family to get away from the men because they were "disgusting" and "frightened" her daughters.

Mrs Brimble's ex-husband Mark and ex-partner David Mitchell maintained their dignified composure while Mr Silvestri's harrowing interview was played.

Flanked by his eldest son Sebastian and Mr Mitchell, Mr Brimble said it had been "a dark day" for the family hearing the often offensive evidence.

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