A woman accused of stabbing to death an American teacher in the United Arab Emirates said she has a mental illness and is “possessed by evil spirits.”

On December 1 of last year, Alaa Bader al-Hashemi allegedly murdered 47-year-old American teacher Ibolya Ryan, a mother of two, in a shopping mall restroom in Abu Dhabi.

AFP reported on Tuesday that, in her trial at a UAE security court, al-Hashemi requested psychological help and said she sees “ghost-like people,” and has “unreal vision” due to a mental illness.

Al-Hashemi is also on trial for attempted murder after she placed a makeshift bomb outside the front door of an Egyptian-American doctor living in the UAE. That incident took place less than two hours after killing Ryan, police said, adding that the bomb was safely dismantled.

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  Woman who stabbed American teacher in UAE said she saw ‘ghost-like people’