Durham rule
- A principle applied in criminal law in certain states where a defendant is exonerated on grounds of insanity if the defendant's unlawful conduct is a direct result of a mental illness or flaw
- Under the Durham rule, if the theft was a result of the defendant's schizophrenia, then the defendant may not be held accountable for the crime.
- The court acquitted the defendant as under the Durham rule, his actions were found to be instigated by a severe mental disorder.
- The attorney argued that her client's behavior was instigated by his mental defect, thus applying the Durham rule could lead to a verdict of not guilty.
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