Under the irresistible impulse test a defendant can be found not guilty by reason of insanity if,at the time the criminal act was committed,he or she was suffering from a mental disease that was so serious that the defendant did not know the nature of the act or did not know that act was wrong.

Question

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The statement is incorrect. Under the irresistible impulse test, a defendant can be found not guilty by reason of insanity if, at the time the criminal act was committed, the defendant was unable to control their actions and conform them to the law, even if they knew that the act was wrong. It is the M'Naghten rule that requires the defendant to not know the nature of the act or that it was wrong.

Under the Irresistible Impulse Test a Defendant Can Be Found