United Kingdom Leading Case insanitydisease of mindfitness and responsibility

M'Naghten's Case (Daniel M'Naghten)

(1843) 10 Cl & Fin 200; 8 ER 718

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom

CourtHouse of Lords

Year1843

StatusBinding authority

Key Principle

Insanity is a defence where, by reason of a defect of reason from disease of the mind, the accused did not know the nature and quality of the act, or did not know it was wrong.

Area of Law

Criminal Law, Procedure & Evidence

Related Cases

R v G and R [2003] UKHL 50; [2004] 1 AC 1034

R v Looseley; Attorney General's Reference (No 3 of 2000) [2001] UKHL 53; [2001] 1 WLR 2060

R v Howe [1987] UKHL 17; [1987] AC 417

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