What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

An insanity defense in criminal defense law is a type of legal defense used in North Carolina in which a defendant claims that they are not guilty of a crime because of a mental illness or mental defect. This defense argues that the defendant did not understand the consequences of their actions at the time the crime was committed, or was not able to make rational decisions. The defense of insanity in criminal defense law is based on a legal principle known as the M’Naghten Rule. Under this rule, a person can only be found not guilty because of insanity if they were unable to appreciate the nature and quality of their actions when they committed the crime. This means that they either did not know that the crime was wrong or they did not understand the consequences of their actions. The legal standard for the insanity defense is very difficult to meet in North Carolina, as the defendant must prove that they were so impaired by a mental illness or mental defect that they did not understand the wrongfulness of their actions. Furthermore, the burden of proof for an insanity defense lies with the defendant. This means that they must provide evidence that they were mentally ill or had a mental defect before committing the crime.

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What is an insanity defense in criminal defense law?

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