... that every man is presumed to be sane, and to possess a sufficient degree of reason to be responsible for his crimes, until the contrary be proved to their satisfaction; and that to establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing, or, if he did know it, that he did not know what he was doing was wrong." The Rules lead to a special verdict of "not guilty by reason of insanity" and leave the defendant under the control of the court. It must be clearly proved that at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such a defect ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now