NCJ Number
157487
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychiatry Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (September 1994) Pages: 409-419
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A case of domestic assault in England is described, with emphasis on the psychopathology of depersonalization and similarities between this case and cases involving hysterical dissociation where it has been held that the relevant defenses are insanity and automatism.
Abstract
A 38-year-old man charged with unlawfully causing grievous bodily harm to his wife with intent to do her grievous bodily harm pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm but denied any intent to cause it. In his evidence the defendant said that he seemed to be like an observer, that he could not influence what he was doing, and this it was like watching himself hitting himself. The defense medical evidence was to the effect that he was in a state of severe depersonalization and not able to form a specific intent. The prosecution's medical evidence was to the effect that depersonalization is a disorder not of doing or volition but of the perception of doing or volition and that a depersonalized intent is nevertheless an intent. The jury convicted the defendant of the action with intent. 9 references (Author abstract modified)