R v Weightman

Facts

The appellant had killed her daughter. She wanted to call a psychiatrist to describe her personality. There was no mental illness. The year is 1980. The report followed for this point is 1991.

Issue

Does Turner allow psychiatric evidence of a personality, where there is no illness?

Held

No. The Court of Appeal excluded it. A personality the jury can understand without medical help is not a subject for expert evidence. Turner applies.

Principle

The exception for psychiatric evidence is illness, or some other condition outside ordinary experience. It is not a commentary on character.

Why it matters

Lowery is the case has not been followed. Weightman is the ordinary application of Turner.

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