Automatism

• Automatism is a person acting in an automatic, "mechanical" way. Their acts must be involuntary.
• Involuntary: "An involuntary act means an act which is done by the muscles without any control by the mind, such as a spasm, a reflex action, or a convulsion".
• Automatism can also come from an external factor. Hill v Baxter.
• Automatism cannot be self induced by things like drugs.
• Lipman: Unable to rely on the defence.
• Quick: Able to rely on defence.