{"id":5485,"date":"2018-03-07T09:26:59","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T09:26:59","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:33:32","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T16:33:32","slug":"r-v-hennessy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawteacher.net\/cases\/r-v-hennessy.php","title":{"rendered":"R v Hennessy – 1989"},"content":{"rendered":"
Legal Case Summary<\/h2>\n
R v Hennessy [1989] 1 WLR 297<\/strong><\/p>\n
Diabetes and defences \u2013 automatism or insanity in hyperglycaemic cases<\/p>\n
Facts<\/h3>\n
The appellant (a diabetic) was apprehended while driving a stolen car. He later collapsed at the police station it became apparent that he was having a diabetic episode and that he had not taken his insulin for several days, at least in part because of emotional turmoil due to being left by his wife. Evidence was given that hyperglycaemia (which is what was afflicting the defendant) resulted in drowsiness and possibly degradation of one\u2019s ability to understand what is happening around them, as well as of their physical and mental abilities. Further, emotional states such as anxiety and depression can exacerbate the effect. He was charged with both theft (contrary to the Theft Act 1968 c.60, s.1<\/strong>) and driving while disqualified (contrary to the Road Traffic Act 1988 c.52, s.103<\/strong>). The appellant did not recall taking the car and at trial relied on the defence of automatism. The trial judge ruled that automatism does not apply to his condition and that he should have relied on a plea of insanity instead. The appellant was convicted.<\/p>\n
Issues<\/h3>\n
On appeal against the conviction, the issue was whether the automatism defence had been available to the appellant or whether insanity is the correct defence for diabetics suffering a hyperglycaemic episode.<\/p>\n