Assignment:
1. Discuss using case law whether the Defence of Automatism or Insanity would be applicable in the following circumstances.
(a) Valentino is dumped by his girlfriend Amy, and is very depressed about it. His mum, not wanting to see him so down, tells him to take her anti-depressants. However, Valentino, who has never taken them before, reacts badly and becomes delusional, thinking his mum is a serpent sent to kill him, and stabs her.
(b) Dalvinder is cutting bread in his kitchen one morning. However, unknown to him, he has actually cut his girlfriend Larissa's neck.
(c) Serephania suffers from diabetes and has forgotten to take her medication. She goes into town shopping, and begins to feel dazed. Whilst in one of the shops she takes a bottle of champagne and walks out without paying. She doesn't normally drink.