#Exam1(2)- Defences mental capacity Flashcards
(40 cards)
what are the mental capacity defences
insanity, automatism and intoxication
what crime can’t insanity be used for
drunk driving it is strict liability
what is case is insanity based on
M’Naghten
what are the three rules M’naghten provided
defect of reason
result of disease of mind
caused D not to know nature of offence and not to realise it was wrong
who must prove insanity
the defence
what does defect of reason mean
their reasoning must have become impaired
what happened in R v Clarke
quashed conviction because had absentmindedness- defect of reason
Disease of mind is
a legal definition, which can be either a physical or mental
R v Kemp
hardening arteries causes him to attack wife COA found that this come under disease of mind
R v Sullivan
mans epilepsy was long term. he ended up attacking 80 year old man. upheld conviction because it didn’t exist at time of attack
R v Hennessy
shows that diabetes can fall under insanity if it effects the mind
what did R v Burgess find
D attacking his girlfriend in his sleep due to sleep walking was insanity
external causes= automatism
what did R v Quick show
diabetics can’t use insanity as an excuse if they haven’t taken insulin- this is an external cause
can a defendant use the defence of insanity if they have voluntarily taken a intoxicating substance and they have a psychotic episode
no
what does R v Coley show
couldn’t use insanity for almost killing neighbors as it was self induced psychosis, he couldn’t use automatism for same reason.
what does not knowing nature of the act mean
they have impaired consciousness
they do not understand what they are doing
what does R v Oye show
he could use NGBRI because he thought police officers were demons and this shows he didn’t understand quality of the act
what does R v Windle show
for all someone may commit a crime and have a disease of mind. they still can’t use defence if they know they are legally wrong
how is R V Johnson similar to windle
the psychiatrists pointed out that like Windle, Johnson realized what he done was legally wrong
what did the Criminal procedure act 1991 do
gave the following options to judges for sentencing
hospital order, supervision order, absolute discharge
evaluate insanity
M’Naghten rules- out of date low knowledge on medical issues
Legal definition- groups like psychopaths not covered
overlap with automatism- confusing to see whether due to external causes or mental illness
social stigma- insanity carries this
Windle- prevents those who may need mental help getting it
EU CHR- d has to proves insanity- goes against article 6 of HRA.
juries- have to decide whether someone is insane or not.
what are proposals for reforming insanity
RC- suggest including those with irresistible urges
1975- Butler committee and in 1789 LC suggest rename to ‘mental disorder’
none of these have been done , however giving judges more options gave them more suitable sentences
what are the two types of automatism
insane and non insane automatism
what is covered by non insane automatism
blow to head, swarm of bees, sneezing, hypnosis, drugs