intro to DR

• the defenmce of diminished responsbility was introduced by the homicide act 1957
• The defence of diminished responsibility is set out in section 2(1) of the homicide act, as amended by section 53 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. it states that, "A person who kills or is party to the killing of another is not to be convicted of murder if they were suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning which":

  • arose from a recognised medical condition
  • substantially impaired the defendant's ability to understand the nature of their conduct, ex cercise self control, or form a rational judgement
  • provides an explanation for the defendant's actions.