Point in time view as at 05/11/2021.
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 51A is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
(1)A person is not criminally responsible for conduct constituting an offence, and is to be acquitted of the offence, if the person was at the time of the conduct unable by reason of mental disorder to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of the conduct.
(2)But a person does not lack criminal responsibility for such conduct if the mental disorder in question consists only of a personality disorder which is characterised solely or principally by abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct.
(3)The defence set out in subsection (1) is a special defence.
(4)The special defence may be stated only by the person charged with the offence and it is for that person to establish it on the balance of probabilities.
(5)In this section, “conduct” includes acts and omissions.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 51A, 51B and cross-headings inserted (with application in accordance with art. 3 of the commencing S.S.I.) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 168, 206(1); S.S.I. 2012/160, art. 3, sch. (with art. 4)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 51A modified (27.11.2015 for specified purposes, 1.4.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 2), s. 28(3), Sch. 3 para. 23(6); S.R. 2015/376, art. 2; S.R. 2016/61, art. 2
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