The M'naghten Rule

[Nam of the Institute]

The M'naghten Rule

Introduction

The M'Naghten rule holds that a person is legally insane if he or she cannot tell right from wrong at the time of the offense. The mental capacity of an accused is a prerequisite for criminal responsibility and punishment. With this in mind, a complex body of judge-made and statute law has developed a range of defenses to reflect the basic premise that those who lack mental capacity are not culpable and should be excused from criminal liability in whole or in part (Thompson, 2007).

Insanity and Automatism

The insanity defense is based on the M'Naghten ...