McNaughton Case

The McNaughton Case refers to a pivotal legal precedent in the United Kingdom regarding the insanity defense. In 1843, Daniel McNaughton attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Peel but mistakenly killed someone else. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity, which led to questions about how to assess legal responsibility for mental illness. The case established the "McNaughton Rules," stating that a defendant can be excused from criminal liability if, at the time of the crime, they did not understand the nature of their actions or could not distinguish right from wrong due to a severe mental disorder.