Murderous Minds on Trial: Terrible Tales from a Forensic Psychiatrist's Casebook

by Stanley Semrau, Judy Gale

Overview

Each murder trial brings its own tangle of evidence, legal parameters, medical factors, social circumstances, and personalities. The tangle gets trickier when we must keep in mind that: "A person shall not be criminally responsible for an act or omission if they suffer from a mental disorder such that they were not able to appreciate the nature and quality of their act or to know that it was wrong."

Forensic Psychiatrist Stanley Semrau takes us through some of the more terrible and fascinating tales from his career and from historical sources, including several cases that came to national attention: Clifford Olson and Terry Driver (The Abbotsford Killer) and the Daniel McNaughten case that marked the beginning of the insanity defense in Britain in 1843.

These chilling and thought-provoking stories delve deep into the psychiatric aspects of homicide law and into the psychology of the muderous mind. Semrau’s examination of these thrilling cases also offers a critique of the existing laws in Canada as he argues for profound changes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459717800
Publisher:	Dundurn Press
Publication date:	10/01/2001
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	340
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Dr. Stanley Semrau is a forensic psychiatrist, expert witness for the provincial and Supreme Court, and lecturer at the University of British Columbia.

Judy Gale is a professional writer and amateur psychiatrist who has traveled around the world, cycling through such disparate places as Bhutan and Vietnam. Besides a degree in International Studies, she has an MBA from Simon Fraser University.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"For both the reader and for people who work in field related to crime and justice, this is an engaging and thoughtful book."

Editorial Reviews

For both the reader and for people who work in field related to crime and justice, this is an engaging and thoughtful book.

Vancouver Sun - Neil Boyd

For both the reader and for people who work in field related to crime and justice, this is an engaging and thoughtful book.

From the Publisher