Status: Completed
Terms of reference
The Law Commission has been directed to review the current defence of insanity (section 23 of the Crimes Act 1961) and in particular to consider:
- Whether the defence is appropriate in its nature and scope.
- If not, whether it should be abolished or modified.
- The way in which the defence should be put to and considered by the court.
- Issues relating to the burden and standard of proof.
In relation to partial defences, the Commission has been asked to further consider issues arising from its recommendations in Some Criminal Defences with Particular Reference to Battered Defendants, including:
- Will the repeal of partial defences unduly disadvantage persons with mental illness or disability, battered defendants, and any other minority groups who may be particularly reliant on such defences?
- Undertake gender analysis of the current operation of partial defences, and in light of this, consider the gender implications of the recommendation for partial defence repeal.
- Is there a risk of unduly harsh sentences under section 102 of the Sentencing Act as currently drafted (and should the section therefore be amended) if partial defences are repealed?
- Is the stigma of a murder conviction appropriate for persons who have acted by reason of adverse circumstances for which society may feel some sympathy?
- Should there be a separate defence for battered defendants, in addition to or instead of current defences?
In relation to infanticide, not previously considered by the Commission:
- Are the current criteria for the defence as provided for in section 178 of the Crimes Act appropriate?
- The significance (if any) of its character as a hybrid offence/partial defence – eg, should infanticide be included consistent with the Law Commission recommendation to repeal provocation and not to introduce diminished responsibility, or did Parliament intend in framing it as a hybrid offence/partial defence to signal a unique status.
- Reform options including whether section 178 should be repealed.