The plea of insanity in the criminal law of Malta

Abstract

Our criminal code distinguishes between insanity at the time of the commission of the crime and insanity at the time of the trial. Regarding the former the code provides at Sec. 34 that "No person shall be liable to punishment if at the time of the act or omission complained of, such person was in a state of insanity or frenzy." Insanity at the time of the commission of the crime not only excludes any punishment but it also excludes any guilt in the event. In this connection Falzon says "che la demonza od il forore, come pure la forza, contemplati noi detti articoli sono cause di giustificazione del reato, ed hanno per effetto non gia' di attenuarlo, ma di farlo spariro del tutto e di oscludere ogni reita' nell 'agonto. La dichiarazione del jury nei detti cosi dev 'essere di non-reita' dell 'accusato."