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D v L and Others: ChD 16 Apr 2003

The claimant had been found guilty of the manslaughter by diminished responsibility of the deceased. He now sought disapplication of the 1982 Act. Held: The application failed: ‘The reforms introduced by the Homicide Act 1957 were designed to preserve certain classes of offender from capital punishment for killings carried out by reason of diminished responsibility … Continue reading D v L and Others: ChD 16 Apr 2003

Regina v Morhall: CACD 23 Aug 1993

A self induced addiction to glue sniffing is inconsistent with a reasonable man. Judge to say if a characteristic is consistent with the reasonable man test for the purposes of judging provocation. Citations: Gazette 06-Oct-1993, Ind Summary 23-Aug-1993, Times 17-Aug-1993 Statutes: Homicide Act 1957 3 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Regina … Continue reading Regina v Morhall: CACD 23 Aug 1993

HM Advocate v Savage: HCJ 21 May 1923

The Court considered whether a borderline insanity was an impairment for the purposes of homicide. Citations: [1923] ScotHC HCJ – 1, 1923 JC 49 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: Scotland Cited by: Cited – Golds, Regina v SC 30-Nov-2016 The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder, saying that he should have been only convicted of manslaughter, … Continue reading HM Advocate v Savage: HCJ 21 May 1923

Golds, Regina v: SC 30 Nov 2016

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder, saying that he should have been only convicted of manslaughter, applying the new test for diminished responsibility as provided under the 1957 Act as amended, and particularly whether the judge should have given directions as to the meaning of ‘substantially’ in the context of his acknowledged impairment. … Continue reading Golds, Regina v: SC 30 Nov 2016

Farnell, Regina (on Application By) v Criminal Cases Review Commission: Admn 15 Apr 2003

The appellant sought judicial review of the respondents refusal to refer his case back to the Court of Appeal. Held: The Commission had misunderstood the way in which the Court of Appeal worked, by anticipating that it would reconsider the evidence. In this case, the defendant and the court had not allowed as a serious … Continue reading Farnell, Regina (on Application By) v Criminal Cases Review Commission: Admn 15 Apr 2003

Henderson v Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust: CA 3 Aug 2018

Upon the allegedly negligent release of the claimant from mental health care, she had, while in the midst of a serious psychotic episode, derived from the schizophrenia, killed her mother and been convicted of manslaughter. She now sought damages in negligence. The defendant relied upon a defence of illegality. Held: All the heads of claim … Continue reading Henderson v Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust: CA 3 Aug 2018

Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 30 Jul 2009

Need for Certainty in Scope of Offence The appellant suffered a severe chronic illness and anticipated that she might want to go to Switzerland to commit suicide. She would need her husband to accompany her, and sought an order requiring the respondent to provide clear guidelines on the circumstances under which someone might be prosecuted … Continue reading Purdy, Regina (on the Application of) v Director of Public Prosecutions: HL 30 Jul 2009

Regina v Errol Garvey: CACD 30 Jan 2002

The appellant appealed a conviction for manslaughter and his sentence. There was a history of conflict between the appellant and the victim, and both had met up carrying knives. Witnesses said the appellant was the attacker. He claimed the judge had given a misdirection as to self-defence. Held: An assertion as to a misdirection must … Continue reading Regina v Errol Garvey: CACD 30 Jan 2002

Regina v Dietschmann: HL 27 Feb 2003

Voluntary drunkenness No Diminished Responsibility The defendant had been convicted of murder. At the time of the assault, he was both intoxicated to the point of losing his inhibitions and was also suffering an abnormality of mind sufficient substantially to reduce his mental responsibility. Held: The correct approach was for the jury to ignore the … Continue reading Regina v Dietschmann: HL 27 Feb 2003

Dunbar (As Administrator of Tony Dunbar Deceased) v Plant: CA 23 Jul 1997

The couple had decided on a suicide pact. They made repeated attempts, resulting in his death. Property had been held in joint names. The deceased’s father asked the court to apply the 1982 Act to disentitle Miss Plant. Held: The appeal was allowed, and relief against forfeiture was given. Mummery LJ said: ‘the presence of … Continue reading Dunbar (As Administrator of Tony Dunbar Deceased) v Plant: CA 23 Jul 1997

Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee: QBD 1957

Professional to use Skilled Persons Ordinary Care Negligence was alleged against a doctor. Held: McNair J directed the jury: ‘Where some special skill is exercised, the test for negligence is not the test of the man on the Clapham omnibus, because he has not got this special skill. The test is the standard of the … Continue reading Bolam v Friern Hospital Management Committee: QBD 1957

Regina v Vickers: CCA 1957

The appellant, having broken into a dwelling-house to commit burglary, came upon the occupier whom he struck in a way which according to the medical evidence could have been inflicted with a moderate degree of violence. The victim died as a result. . .

Acts

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Her Majestys Attorney General for Jersey v Holley: PC 15 Jun 2005

(Jersey) The defendant appealed his conviction for murder, claiming a misdirection on the law of provocation. A chronic alcoholic, he had admitted killing his girlfriend with an axe. Nine law lords convened to seek to reconcile conflicting decisions of the House as to provocation. Held: The defence of provocation has two ingredients. The first, subjective … Continue reading Her Majestys Attorney General for Jersey v Holley: PC 15 Jun 2005

Regina v Cambridge: CACD 15 Feb 1994

The Judge must leave the issue of provocation to the jury if there is evidence to raise the issue, even if it had not been argued for by either prosecution or defendant. Citations: Gazette 23-Mar-1994, Ind Summary 28-Feb-1994, Times 15-Feb-1994 Statutes: Homicide Act 1957 3 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Crime, Criminal Practice Updated: 26 October … Continue reading Regina v Cambridge: CACD 15 Feb 1994

Regina (Director of Public Prosecutions) v Camplin: HL 1978

The court considered the direction to be given as to the existence of provocation so as to reduce a charge of murder to one of manslaughter. The reasonable man in the definition should be one with the defendant’s mental condition. ‘The judge should state what the question is using the very terms of the section. … Continue reading Regina (Director of Public Prosecutions) v Camplin: HL 1978

Regina v Pearce: CACD 11 Dec 2001

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder. He said that the court had not allowed his alcoholism as a characteristic for the purposes of testing the defence of provocation, and that the evidence of his long standing partner should be treated as equivalent to that of a wife, making her evidence admissible but not … Continue reading Regina v Pearce: CACD 11 Dec 2001

Regina v Acott: HL 12 Mar 1997

Provocation is not an issue in murder until evidence is given which takes the issues beyond a mere refuted cross examination. If there was ‘insufficient material for a jury to find that it is a reasonable possibility that there was specific provoking conduct resulting in a loss of self-control, there is simply no issue of … Continue reading Regina v Acott: HL 12 Mar 1997

Regina v Smith (Morgan James): HL 27 Jul 2000

The defendant had sought to rely upon the defence of provocation. He had suffered serious clinical depression. Held: When directing a jury on the law of provocation, it was no longer appropriate to direct the jury to disregard any particular characteristics of the defendant when asking whether the provocation was such as to make a … Continue reading Regina v Smith (Morgan James): HL 27 Jul 2000

James, Regina v; Regina v Karimi: CACD 25 Jan 2006

The defendants appealed their convictions for murder, saying that the court had not properly guided the jury on provocation. The court was faced with apparently conflicting decision of the House of Lords (Smith) and the Privy Council (Holley). Held: ‘The rule that this court must always follow a decision of the House of Lords and, … Continue reading James, Regina v; Regina v Karimi: CACD 25 Jan 2006

Inglis, Regina v: CACD 12 Nov 2010

The appellant was mother of the victim. He had suffered catastrophic injuries. She had tried to end his life in a ‘mercy killing’, but was discovered, charged with attempted murder, and released on bail. On a second occasion she injected him with a lethal dose of heroin. She now appealed against conviction saying her defence … Continue reading Inglis, Regina v: CACD 12 Nov 2010

Regina v Baille: CACD 1995

The defendant appealed his conviction for murder. The deceased had been supplying his sons with drugs. On the day in question he learned that the supplier had threatened violence against one son for buying drugs elsewhere. He was drunk. He went to . .

Chadwick v Collinson and Others: ChD 24 Sep 2014

The deceased and the claimant lived together for about 10 years in an apparently stable and loving relationship. They had a son together. They also co-owned a house (by way of joint tenancy) in which they lived. In April 2013 the claimant was referred by his GP for a mental health assessment after describing feelings … Continue reading Chadwick v Collinson and Others: ChD 24 Sep 2014

In the Estate of Cunigunda Crippen deceased: 1911

Dr Crippen notoriously survived his wife. Between the date of his conviction for her murder and the carrying out of the death sentence passed on him, Dr Crippen made a will naming Ethel Le Neve as the sole executrix and universal beneficiary. Ethel Le Neve was passed over on a motion for the grant of … Continue reading In the Estate of Cunigunda Crippen deceased: 1911

Regina v Coutts: HL 19 Jul 2006

The defendant was convicted of murder. Evidence during the trial suggested a possibility of manslaughter, but neither the defence nor prosecution proposed the alternate verdict. The defendant now appealed saying that the judge had an independent duty to leave that option to the jury. Held: The appeal succeeded. The judge should have left a manslaughter … Continue reading Regina v Coutts: HL 19 Jul 2006

Regina v Spriggs: CCA 1958

The court considered the then conventional formulations employed in Scotland in relation to the level of impairment, which included (but were not confined to) references to the borderline of insanity Citations: [1958] 1 QB 270 Statutes: Homicide Act 1957 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Golds, Regina v SC 30-Nov-2016 The defendant appealed … Continue reading Regina v Spriggs: CCA 1958

Regina v Melville: CACD 1976

The defendant appealed his conviction for murder saying that evidence later obtained suggested that he was suffering diminished responsibility at the time of the offence. Held: The evidence was not admitted. It was not sufficiently strong to have supported the defence. The court quoted a previous judgment of Atkinson LJ: ‘It may well be that … Continue reading Regina v Melville: CACD 1976

Regina v Campbell: CACD 25 Oct 1996

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder. At trial he had pleaded provocation, but not that he suffered abnormality of mind. Subsequent evidence of his state of mind led to this referral. The court now received fresh evidence to support a defence of diminished responsibility where the issue had not been raised at trial. … Continue reading Regina v Campbell: CACD 25 Oct 1996

Reynolds, Regina v: CACD 8 Jul 2004

Appeal against conviction of murder on a reference by the Criminal Cases Review Commission under section 69 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 on the basis that medical evidence now available indicates that he suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome which may have substantially diminished his responsibility for the killing of the victim within the meaning of … Continue reading Reynolds, Regina v: CACD 8 Jul 2004

Regina v Weekes: CACD 18 Feb 1999

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder saying that at the time of the offence he suffered a paranoid psychotic illness which would have substantially impaired his mental responsibility for his acts. He was not regarded as insane as defined by the M’Naghton rules. He had been advised that he might have a defence … Continue reading Regina v Weekes: CACD 18 Feb 1999

Brennan v Regina: CACD 21 Nov 2014

The defendant, then 22 had a history of disturbed childhood, sexual abuse and outpatient mental health treatment together with one instance when he was sectioned following a suicide attempt. On the undisputed psychiatric evidence he suffered from a schizotypal disorder as well as an emotionally unstable personality disorder. He was obsessed with witchcraft and Satanist … Continue reading Brennan v Regina: CACD 21 Nov 2014

Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014

Criminality of Assisting Suicide not Infringing The court was asked: ‘whether the present state of the law of England and Wales relating to assisting suicide infringes the European Convention on Human Rights, and whether the code published by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to prosecutions of those who are alleged to have assisted a … Continue reading Nicklinson and Another, Regina (on The Application of): SC 25 Jun 2014

Mezey v South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust: QBD 5 Dec 2008

The claimant psychiatrist allowed freedom within the insecure grounds of the hospital to a newly admitted but unexamined patient. He left and committed a homicide. She was suspended pending disciplinary proceedings by the Trust. An expert report found minor faults but suggested no further action, and the claimant sought confirmation that the matter was closed. … Continue reading Mezey v South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust: QBD 5 Dec 2008

In the Estate of Julian Bernard Hall deceased; In re RH: CA 1914

The rule against an offender benefitting from his crime applies not just in cases involving a conviction for murder. Held: The court rejected a suggestion that a distinction should be drawn between cases of murder and manslaughter. Lord Cozens-Hardy MR failed entirely to appreciate the supposed distinction: ‘it was a case of felony and I … Continue reading In the Estate of Julian Bernard Hall deceased; In re RH: CA 1914

Dietschmann v Regina: CACD 5 Oct 2001

The defendant was convicted of murder. He claimed diminished responsibility arising from a disorder, being either according to one psychiatrist, arising from alcohol dependence syndrome, or according to another, a depressed grief reaction. The substantial issue related to the judge’s directions on the alcohol dependence. The defendant did not suggest he had a craving: his … Continue reading Dietschmann v Regina: CACD 5 Oct 2001

Regina v Lambert; Regina v Ali; Regina v Jordan: CACD 14 Sep 2000

Each defendant was charged under a statute which provided a defence if they could prove a certain element. They complained that this was a breach of their human rights. The complaint was rejected. It would be wrong to impose a burden of proof on a defendant as regards a main element of a crime, but … Continue reading Regina v Lambert; Regina v Ali; Regina v Jordan: CACD 14 Sep 2000

Wood, Regina v (No 1): CACD 20 Jun 2008

The defendant appealed against his conviction for murder, saying that he suffered from alcohol dependency syndrome, and that this amounted to a diminished responsibility. Held: The appeal succeeded and and a conviction for manslaughter was substituted. Whether or not brain damage has occurred, a live issue of diminished responsibility may nonetheless fall to be determined … Continue reading Wood, Regina v (No 1): CACD 20 Jun 2008

Regina v Khan: CACD 27 Jul 2009

On his trial for murder the defendant produced unchallenged expert evidence that at the time of the offence, his mental responsibility for the killing was substantially impaired by his mental illness. He said that in these circumstances the charge of murder should have been withdrawing leaving only manslaughter available to the jury. Held: The medical … Continue reading Regina v Khan: CACD 27 Jul 2009

Regina v Chief National Insurance Commissioner Ex Parte Connor: QBD 1981

The court was asked whether the rule against forfeiture applied so as to disentitle an applicant from receiving a widow’s allowance when she had killed her husband with a knife. She had been held guilty of manslaughter but simply placed on probation. Held: The forfeiture rule does not apply universally to all cases involving a … Continue reading Regina v Chief National Insurance Commissioner Ex Parte Connor: QBD 1981

Challen v Challen and Another: ChD 27 May 2020

Forfeiture rule disapplied after spousal abuse The claimant sought the disapplication of the forfeiture rule. She had been convicted of the manslaughter of her seriously abusive husband. The court considered whether a conviction for murder set aside and replaced with one of manslaughter was a conviction under the 1982 Act, and that the three month … Continue reading Challen v Challen and Another: ChD 27 May 2020

Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority: HL 24 Jul 1997

The plaintiff suffered catastrophic brain damage as a result of cardiac arrest induced by respiratory failure as a child whilst at the defendant hospital. A doctor was summoned but failed to attend, and the child suffered cardiac arrest and brain damage. Held: In cases of diagnosis and treatment there are cases where, despite a body … Continue reading Bolitho v City and Hackney Health Authority: HL 24 Jul 1997

Regina v Byrne: CCA 1960

The defendant was a sexual psychopath who had strangled and mutilated a young woman resident of the YWCA. The case on his behalf was that he was unable to resist his impulse to gross and sadistic sexual violence. The judge’s directions had amounted . .

Regina v Matheson: CCA 1958

The defendant raised a defence of dimished responsibility under the 1957 Act to a charge of murder. Three doctors called for the defence at the trial had stated that the defendant was suffering from an abnormality of mind due to arrested or retarded . .