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Violence in sleep: medico-legal issues and two case reports

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Christopher Howard*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, London
P. T. D'Orbán
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr C. Howard, Academic Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG

Synopsis

Reported cases of violence during sleep are reviewed. Two new cases are reported where the subjects were charged respectively with attempted murder and murder; both were acquitted on the grounds of non-insane automatism. Clinical features and aetiological factors are analysed. The legal concepts surrounding non-insane automatism are discussed and criticized.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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