Question

Explain the M'Naghten Rule and the role it plays in the trial?

Answer 1

Answer: standard used in the insanity defense

Step-by-step explanation:

The M'Naghten Rule is a standard used in the insanity defense. It creates a presumption of sanity for the defendant, unless the defense can prove that, at the time of the crime, the defendant was unable to understand the nature of the act or that it was wrong due to a mental disease or defect. The rule is applied by the jury after hearing medical testimony from prosecution and defense experts. It was the first legal test for criminal insanity, originating in England in 1843

Answer 2

The M'Naghten Rule is a legal standard used to determine insanity in a defendant within a trial, potentially leading to a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The M'Naghten Rule is a standard for judging legal insanity that originated from a mid-19th century English case. This rule states that a defendant should not be held responsible for their actions if, due to their mental state, they either did not understand what they were doing, or did not understand that their actions were wrong. The rule plays a critical role in trials by providing a legal definition of insanity which can be used as a basis for a defence. If a defendant successfully proves they meet the criteria of the M'Naghten Rule, they may be found not guilty by reason of insanity. This can lead to the defendant being committed to a mental institution rather than a prison. In a trial, establishing insanity as a defense requires thorough examination and typically involves the testimony of psychiatric experts.