Insanity Defense History
In Greek and Roman mythology the beginning of an insanity defense was found. Strange and unusual behaviors were blamed on the Gods. The Gods were thought to be in control at the time the unusual acts were performed. The hearing of voices was thought to be blessings bestowed by the Gods to deliver messages to the less fortunate people. These people who heard the voices were revered and honored, not thought of as insane. It wasn't until the late seventh century B.C., under the archonship of Drake, the insanity defense was written about (Robinson). In the 1600's, English common law introduced the "Absolute Madness" defense. In 1724, the trial of Edward Arnold, who shot Lord Onslow in front of witnesses. His defense brought witnesses to testify that Mr. Arnold acted like a mad man, like a "wild beast". This resulted in the "Wild Beast Rule", meaning, "Not guilty by reason of insanity if totally deprived of reason so as to be as an infant or a wild beast". (History of Standards for the Insanity Defense). In the 1800's, a simple treason charge, which is punishable by death, became one of the insanity defense precedence. A Mr. James Hadfield fired a gun at King George III in a theatre. He a major disturbance but no one was
Also, because of the Hinckley verdict, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), stated that laws were needed to restrict testimony in insanity cases. Bulletin American Academy Psychiatry and the Law. edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hinckley/BACKLASH. The McNaughton rule was revised in 1954. he did not know he was doing what was wrong". The insanity defense, as a whole, should be played out as "guilty but mentally ill. History of Standards for the Insanity Defense. - Amber Halvorson ------------------------------------------------------------------------**Bibliography**Robinson, Daniel, N. 91 West Publishing Company, 1983 & 20008 English Rep 722.
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