The justices had decided that a diabetic motorist charged with dangerous driving, and saying that he had done so during a hypo-glycaemic episode, should be acquitted on the ground that he was in a state of automatism. The prosecution appealed.
Held: The appeal succeeded. The justices, had they directed themselves correctly as to the effect of the evidence, should not have come to the conclusion that at the material time for the purposes of this charge there had occurred such a complete destruction of voluntary control as could constitute in law automatism.
Judges:
Lord Parker CJ, Streatfield, Winn, Widgery, Brabin JJ
Citations:
[1962] 2 QB 572
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – Regina v Quick CACD 18-Apr-1973
The defendant appealed against his conviction for assault. He had pleaded guilty after a ruling by the judge as to the meaning of the phrase ‘a defect of reason, from disease of the mind’ within the meaning of the M’Naughten Rules. More particularly . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Crime
Updated: 06 May 2022; Ref: scu.539361