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Do you agree with the contention that the law on insanity is outdated, unfair and in urgent need of reform?
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Do you agree with the contention that the law on insanity is outdated, unfair and in urgent need of reform? The present law on the defence of Insanity dates back to the early 1800's when M'naughten made an attempt to kill the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, actually killing his secretary. He claimed that he was hearing voices to tell him to do so. He was found not guilty on a plea of insanity and due to the public outcry at this decision, the trial judges laid out the rules that they based their decision on. These are now known as the M'naughten rules and state that at the time of the offence, the defendant must have had a defect of reason caused by a disease of the mind as to make him not know the quality and nature of his act and lack the knowledge that it was wrong...
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