SCL 1502
78
Mental illness or mental defect and criminal responsibility
7 8 (1) A person who commits an act or makes an omission which constitutes an offence and who at the time of such commission or omission suffers from a mental illness or mental defect which makes him or her incapable—
(a)
of appreciating the wrongfulness of his or her act or omission; or
(b)
of acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his or her act or omission,
shall not be criminally responsible for such act or omission.
[Subs. (1) substituted by s. 5 (a) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(1A) Every person is presumed not to suffer from a mental illness or mental defect so as not to be criminally responsible in terms of section 78 (1), until the contrary is proved on a balance of probabilities.
[Subs. (1A) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(1B) Whenever the criminal responsibility of an accused with reference to the commission of an act or an omission which constitutes an offence is in issue, the burden of proof with reference to the criminal responsibility of the accused shall be on the party who raises the issue.
[Subs. (1B) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(2) If it is alleged at criminal proceedings that the accused is by reason of mental illness or mental defect or for any other reason not criminally responsible for the offence charged, or if it appears to the court at criminal proceedings that the accused might for such a reason not be so responsible, the court shall in the case of an allegation or appearance of mental illness or mental defect, and may, in any other case, direct that the matter be enquired into and be reported on in accordance with the provisions of section 79.
[Subs. (2) substituted by s. 5 (c) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(3) If the finding contained in the relevant report is the unanimous finding of the persons who under section 79 enquired into the relevant mental condition of the
accused,
Mental illness or mental defect and criminal responsibility
7 8 (1) A person who commits an act or makes an omission which constitutes an offence and who at the time of such commission or omission suffers from a mental illness or mental defect which makes him or her incapable—
(a)
of appreciating the wrongfulness of his or her act or omission; or
(b)
of acting in accordance with an appreciation of the wrongfulness of his or her act or omission,
shall not be criminally responsible for such act or omission.
[Subs. (1) substituted by s. 5 (a) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(1A) Every person is presumed not to suffer from a mental illness or mental defect so as not to be criminally responsible in terms of section 78 (1), until the contrary is proved on a balance of probabilities.
[Subs. (1A) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(1B) Whenever the criminal responsibility of an accused with reference to the commission of an act or an omission which constitutes an offence is in issue, the burden of proof with reference to the criminal responsibility of the accused shall be on the party who raises the issue.
[Subs. (1B) inserted by s. 5 (b) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(2) If it is alleged at criminal proceedings that the accused is by reason of mental illness or mental defect or for any other reason not criminally responsible for the offence charged, or if it appears to the court at criminal proceedings that the accused might for such a reason not be so responsible, the court shall in the case of an allegation or appearance of mental illness or mental defect, and may, in any other case, direct that the matter be enquired into and be reported on in accordance with the provisions of section 79.
[Subs. (2) substituted by s. 5 (c) of Act No. 68 of 1998.]
(3) If the finding contained in the relevant report is the unanimous finding of the persons who under section 79 enquired into the relevant mental condition of the
accused,