King V Cogden
King v Cogdon Minerva Rodriguez Criminal Law 1310 22 April 2013 Professor Holden
Case: King v Cogdon King v Cogdon, was an Australian case heard in 1950. Ms. Cogdon who suffers from minor neurotic conditions is believed to be her daughter’s murderer. She had on an occasion dreamt spiders were attacking her daughter (Pat). That night Ms. Cogdon had slept walked into her room and began to violently brush the spiders off her daughter’s face in her sleep. On the night of the murder, Ms. Cogdon dreamt of soldiers attacking Pat. Though Ms. Cogdon did not recall the incident, she remembered telling her sister that she thought she had hurt Pat. Unconscious Crime Sleepwalkers arise in a state of low consciousness, but are able to perform activities that would otherwise be performed in a state of full consciousness. These activities can range anywhere from: Cleaning, hazardous cooking, driving, grabbing at hallucinated objects, or even homicide. Usually sleepwalking in adults is a sign of drug abuse or some sort of disorder.t Sleepwalking is less common in adults than children. Although, sleepwalkers have their eyes open, they have very little or no memory of the incident. Sleepwalkers become bystanders of their own crimes. With this said, should Ms Cogdon be held responsible for the death of her daughter while sleepwalking? Was the Killing of Pat Involuntary? Ms. Cogdon and Pat’s relationship was a close one. Ms. Cogdon always worried about her 19 year old daughter Pat, who had for some time been receiving psychiatric treatment for a minor neurotic condition. Although doctors had said she was cured, Ms Cogdon often worried that she was okay. The night before Pat’s death, they had both gone to the cinema. During their outing they had engaged in a conversation having to do with the war in Korea. This war troubled Ms. Cogdon. She was worried it would one day reach her door steps.
Case: King v Cogdon King v Cogdon, was an Australian case heard in 1950. Ms. Cogdon who suffers from minor neurotic conditions is believed to be her daughter’s murderer. She had on an occasion dreamt spiders were attacking her daughter (Pat). That night Ms. Cogdon had slept walked into her room and began to violently brush the spiders off her daughter’s face in her sleep. On the night of the murder, Ms. Cogdon dreamt of soldiers attacking Pat. Though Ms. Cogdon did not recall the incident, she remembered telling her sister that she thought she had hurt Pat. Unconscious Crime Sleepwalkers arise in a state of low consciousness, but are able to perform activities that would otherwise be performed in a state of full consciousness. These activities can range anywhere from: Cleaning, hazardous cooking, driving, grabbing at hallucinated objects, or even homicide. Usually sleepwalking in adults is a sign of drug abuse or some sort of disorder.t Sleepwalking is less common in adults than children. Although, sleepwalkers have their eyes open, they have very little or no memory of the incident. Sleepwalkers become bystanders of their own crimes. With this said, should Ms Cogdon be held responsible for the death of her daughter while sleepwalking? Was the Killing of Pat Involuntary? Ms. Cogdon and Pat’s relationship was a close one. Ms. Cogdon always worried about her 19 year old daughter Pat, who had for some time been receiving psychiatric treatment for a minor neurotic condition. Although doctors had said she was cured, Ms Cogdon often worried that she was okay. The night before Pat’s death, they had both gone to the cinema. During their outing they had engaged in a conversation having to do with the war in Korea. This war troubled Ms. Cogdon. She was worried it would one day reach her door steps.