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Casebook Assignment 1: David’s Case
Rosalee Otaki
PSY0010
June 1, 2021
, 2
David’s case involves a sudden change of character resulting in a murder. David was
generally known for being an easy-going gardener who suddenly began showing signs of
aggression and irritability. This later evolved to him brutally beating and killing a client during
an argument that the prosecution argued was due to a fit of rage. This case is difficult due to the
fact that David had not previously shown signs of such aggression until a short time before the
murder and such behaviour was developed quickly during a short span of time. The details of the
case leans towards the naturist argument, this would be due to the fact that some event must have
taken place to alter David’s personality negatively and lead to murder (Sacco, 2021).
Based on the outline of David’s case, the obvious assumption that can be made about his
behaviour is that details are missing behind what could have caused an abnormal effect on his
otherwise mild personality. Another assumption that can be made about David’s behaviour is
that there can be some degree of mental or neurological issues associated with David’s behaviour
as is mentioned in modern biological theories of crime (Sacco, 2021). Due to the sudden change
in behaviour seen in David, the responsibility for the crime does not seem to be his due to the
fact that he seems to have suffered from something that brought about such a reaction that was
otherwise not in his demeanour. It is very significant that David’s behaviour was described as
abnormal for him because it shows signs that there had to be some sort of extreme event or
change in his life or to his body that caused such conduct.
Based on the evidence provided by the defence in David’s case, he does not seem to be
morally responsible for his anger or the murder he committed due to it because he had been
exposed to substances affecting the neurological communications in his brain (Sacco, 2021).
According to neurological theories, head injuries caused by physical or even chemical damage
can lead to criminal behaviour (Sacco, 2021). Some possible environmental influences that may
Casebook Assignment 1: David’s Case
Rosalee Otaki
PSY0010
June 1, 2021
, 2
David’s case involves a sudden change of character resulting in a murder. David was
generally known for being an easy-going gardener who suddenly began showing signs of
aggression and irritability. This later evolved to him brutally beating and killing a client during
an argument that the prosecution argued was due to a fit of rage. This case is difficult due to the
fact that David had not previously shown signs of such aggression until a short time before the
murder and such behaviour was developed quickly during a short span of time. The details of the
case leans towards the naturist argument, this would be due to the fact that some event must have
taken place to alter David’s personality negatively and lead to murder (Sacco, 2021).
Based on the outline of David’s case, the obvious assumption that can be made about his
behaviour is that details are missing behind what could have caused an abnormal effect on his
otherwise mild personality. Another assumption that can be made about David’s behaviour is
that there can be some degree of mental or neurological issues associated with David’s behaviour
as is mentioned in modern biological theories of crime (Sacco, 2021). Due to the sudden change
in behaviour seen in David, the responsibility for the crime does not seem to be his due to the
fact that he seems to have suffered from something that brought about such a reaction that was
otherwise not in his demeanour. It is very significant that David’s behaviour was described as
abnormal for him because it shows signs that there had to be some sort of extreme event or
change in his life or to his body that caused such conduct.
Based on the evidence provided by the defence in David’s case, he does not seem to be
morally responsible for his anger or the murder he committed due to it because he had been
exposed to substances affecting the neurological communications in his brain (Sacco, 2021).
According to neurological theories, head injuries caused by physical or even chemical damage
can lead to criminal behaviour (Sacco, 2021). Some possible environmental influences that may
