Diminished
Responsibility Revision
AO1 and AO2
, Diminished Responsibility
• Define DR – S2 Homicide Act 1957 as amended by the Coroners and Jus
Act 2009
• Must be an abnormality of mental functioning – Byrne
• Defendant must have a recognised medical condition Ahluwalia
• Define substantial impairment = Lloyd
• Defendant must have been rendered unable to: understand the nature of
their act, or form a rational judgment or exercise self-control
• Abnormality must provide an explanation for defendant’s acts and omissio
– must be causal link but need not be the only one
• Role of intoxication and DR, Role of alcoholism/Alcohol Dependency
Syndrome –Dowds. Stewart
Responsibility Revision
AO1 and AO2
, Diminished Responsibility
• Define DR – S2 Homicide Act 1957 as amended by the Coroners and Jus
Act 2009
• Must be an abnormality of mental functioning – Byrne
• Defendant must have a recognised medical condition Ahluwalia
• Define substantial impairment = Lloyd
• Defendant must have been rendered unable to: understand the nature of
their act, or form a rational judgment or exercise self-control
• Abnormality must provide an explanation for defendant’s acts and omissio
– must be causal link but need not be the only one
• Role of intoxication and DR, Role of alcoholism/Alcohol Dependency
Syndrome –Dowds. Stewart
