Automatism

Question 1

Automatism

Answer 1

Crime committed by an involuntary act caused by an external factor

Question 2

Bratty v A-G of NI

Answer 2

Lord Denning- act which is done by the muscles without any control of the mind such as a spasm, reflex action or a convulsion: or any act done by a person who is not conscious of what he is doing

Question 3

R v T

Answer 3

Raped, post-traumatic stress disorder - entered «dissociative state»

Question 4

Brooke v Perkins

Answer 4

Hypoglycaemic state - hit another car - couldn’t remember
Some control - unable to plead

Question 5

Attorney-generals reference (no.2 of 1992)

Answer 5

Trance-like state by repetitive vision of long flat motorway - reduced but didn’t eliminate awareness
Acquitted - raised as issue of law - does not amount to automatism

Question 6

Self-induced automatism

Answer 6

May be used depending on whether the defendant knew there was a risk

Question 7

R v bailey

Answer 7

Huypoglycaemia - felt unwell before the attack but had only eaten some sugar
CofA - can use if behaviour not amount to reckless - did

Question 8

R v coley,, McGhee, and Harris

Answer 8

Not available if included acute state of involuntary behaviour by own fault - I.e drugs/alcohol

Question 9

R v hardie

Answer 9

Could rely on those taking Valium - didn’t understand effects