The appellant, who suffered from a severe mental illness, was found marginally fit to stand trial and subsequently pleaded guilty to several offences, including common nuisance.
The trial judge entered findings of guilt and later found the appellant not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) without conducting a plea inquiry.
On appeal, the Court of Appeal set aside the guilty pleas, findings of guilt, and NCRMD verdicts, holding that the trial judge's failure to conduct a plea inquiry vitiated the pleas given the appellant's mental state and lack of understanding of the consequences.
