1B - Insanity - Case List

Question 1

M’Naghten

Answer 1

Created 3 rules:

1. D suffered a deflect of reason
2. Which was caused by a disease of the min
3. Causing the D to not know the nature and quality of his act, or did not know what he was doing was legally wrong

Question 2

Clarke

Answer 2

Rules of insanity do not apply to people who simply have moments of confusion or absentmindedness which is NOT a ‘deflect of reason’
‘deflect of reason’ applies only to ‘persons who by a reason of a ‘disease of the mind’ are deprived of the power of reasoning’

Question 3

Coley

Answer 3

The situation was one of voluntary intoxication and the abnormality of mind was caused by an external act

Question 4

Sullivan

Answer 4

HOL decided the source of disease was irrelevant; could be ‘organic, as in epilepsy, or functional’ and it didnt matter whether the impairment was ‘permanent or transient and intermittent’, provided it existed at the time

Question 5

Hennessey

Answer 5

High blood sugar levels because of diabetes is classes as insanity because the levels affect the mind

Question 6

Burgess

Answer 6

He was suffering from a sleep disorder which is an internal cause, insanity was allowed
If it’s due to an external cause such as a blow to the head, automatism may be allowed instead

Question 7

Quick

Answer 7

Not insanity
CoA ruled that because his condition was due to not eating after taking insulin, insanity was allowed. If it’s due to an external cause like a blow to the head, automatism may be allowed instead

Question 8

Kemp

Answer 8

Law is concerned with the mind not the brain

Disease can be a mental or physical disease which affecrs the mind

Question 9

Oye

Answer 9

D didn’t know what he was doing and/or that it was wrong so insanity was successful

Question 10

Windle

Answer 10

D must not know their actions are legally wrong to have insanity available to them as a defence

Question 11

Johnson

Answer 11

D must know the nature and quality of the act to have insanity available to them