Diminished Responsibility (cases)

Question 1

What happened in Byrne?

Answer 1

Defendant was a sexual psychopath who killed women at YMCA.
Can rely on Diminished Responsibility- clearly abnormal to the reasonable person.

Question 2

What happened in Dietschman(2003)?

Answer 2

Defendant had an adjustment disorder that led to depression. When victim taunted him about his aunties death he drank and killed victim.
Not Diminished Responsibility- intoxication is ignored

Question 3

What happened in Stewart (2009)?

Answer 3

Defendant was a chronic alcoholic and killed a man in a fight .
Can rely diminished responsibility- ADs is acceptable and a recognised condition.

Question 4

What happened in Ahluwalia?

Answer 4

Defendant was physically abused by husband for many years .She set him on fire resulting in death 6 days later.
Could rely on Diminished Responsibility-BWS is a recognised condition.

Question 5

What happened in Golds(2014)?

Answer 5

Defendant sexually assaulted and killed partner and had a history of mental disorder.
Couldn’t rely on diminished responsibility-impairment must be substantial and not minimal.