Defences

Question 1

M’Naughten (Defect of reason)

Answer 1

M’Naughten attempted to kill the prime minister, Sir Robert Peel, but instead shot and killed Edward Drummond, the prime minister’s secretory. M’Naughten was suffering from insane delusions at the time of the time of the killing. The House of Lords formulated the M’Naughten rules which apply in determining whether a person should escape criminal liability on the grounds of being insane.

Question 2

R v Clarke (1972)

Answer 2

Mrs Clarke, a 58 year old woman,