CRIME AND INSANITY Flashcards
what is monomania?
“single pathological preoccupation in an otherwise sound mind,” monomaniacs appeared to be healthy sane people except for 1 neatly localised flaw e.g. pyromania
what is moral insanity?
mental disorder consisting of abnormal emotions and behaviours in the apparent absence of intellectual impairments, delusions, or hallucinations.
explain early use of insanity defence
those found not guilty of reason of insanity were, however free of the reach of the law and if dangerous had to committed through another process
explain the Hadfeild case
james hadfeild attempted assassination of George iii in 1800, he was defended on basis that he was under influence of delusion when he committed the crime, hadfeild had a head injury that explained insanity and so judge pushed for legislation that would ensure confinement of those found not guilty by insanity
explain the M’ Naughten case
M’ Naughten attempted to kill PM Robert Peel but killed his secretary Edward Drummond. his defence argued that someone suffering homicidal monomania or partial insanity should be relieved of criminal responsibility
what are the M’ Naughten rules Judge Tindal made?
1) did the defendant know what they were doing at the time?
2) did they know what was wrong?
Under the trial on lunatics act 1883, why did Queen Victoria demand verdict be changed from “not guilty”
so as to act as a detterent to other lunatics; the phrasing “guilty” of the act or omission charged but insane so as not to be responsible according to law, for his actions
what did Reich law criminal procedure 1879 entail about the defendants mental stability when in question, who should be consulted?
doctors should be consulted in cases where the defendants mental stability was in question, psychiatrists called upon to give evidence of mental state who clearly did not suffer from full blown insanity
