m'naghten rule

English - English

Definition of m'naghten rule in English English dictionary

A test of criminal insanity

it must be clearly proved that, at the time of committing 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 he was doing what was wrong.

Related Terms

M'Naghten Rules

McNaughten Rules, the

Etymology

() 1843 From the Trial of McNaughton who murdered the secretary to Sir Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England.