Seminar 15 - Insanity and Automatism - SW201 by Claire Turner https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o en-us 2017-12-07 11:33:32 UTC 2025-10-07 00:01:24 UTC hello@padlet.com Alf suffered from a rare blood disorder that could cause severe blackouts. His doctor prescribed powerful tablets to counteract the effect of the disorder. One morning Alf woke up in his girlfriend’s flat to find that she had been strangled. Evidence establishes that:(a) Alf strangled her whilst in a state of unconsciousness, as a result of which he was totally unaware of his actions;(b) Alf took twice the dosage of tablets prescribed by his doctor;(c) The medical evidence is inconclusive as to whether Alf’s unconsciousness was caused by the blood disorder or the tablets. Alf has been charged with the manslaughter of his girlfriend. claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135628205 2021-01-28 10:23:40 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135628205 Part 1: Outline the defence of insanity and apply it to this scenario. Is Alf likely to be successful in this defence and what effect will this have on his liability? claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135630825 2021-01-28 10:24:29 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135630825 Part 2: Outline the defence of automatism and apply it to this scenario. Is Alf likely to be successful in this defence and what effect will this have on his liability? claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135632889 2021-01-28 10:25:07 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135632889 Part 3:How would Alf’s defence of automatism be affected, if at all, if he had been charged with murder instead of manslaughter? claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135634418 2021-01-28 10:25:35 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/1135634418 Link to Prezi claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/2023034859 2022-02-01 10:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/2023034859 Insanity claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/2023627301 Blood disorder - internal cause - Insanity (Bratty).  McNaghten rules - Is a disease of mental functioning - Kemp. Defect of reason - (Clarke), Nature quality act (Codere), Didn't know it was wrong (Windle). Satisfied as it states 'state of unconsciousness' and 'totally unaware of his actions'.

Standard of proof for the defence - balance of probabilities -  unlikely on the current evidence. ]]> 2022-02-01 15:48:28 UTC https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/2023627301 Automatism claire43 https://padlet.com/claire43/k2zdhk19952o/wish/2023644710 Due to the tablets - total loss of voluntary control due to external factor (Quick; Bratty). Self induced? Balance of proof? 
Prosecution - reckless by taking double the dose that it would lead to 'aggressive, unpredictable and uncontrolled behaviour'.  We would need to know the side effects of the drug, any advice given by the doctor and whether he had suffered similar incidents in the past. (Bailey)

Hardie - defence will argue not known side effect from a 'blood disorder drug'. Distinguished as it is not a soporific drug. 



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