Verdins principle 1 requires a real connection between the mental disorder and the offending behaviour — the disorder must have been operative at the time of the offence and must have contributed to, been connected to, or explained the offending, though the connection need not satisfy the legal requirements of causation. Delay caused by the accused's own refusal to cooperate with the prosecution and late guilty plea need not be taken into account as a mitigating factor; the observation in Merrett that delay 'however caused' is a powerful mitigating factor does not extend to self-inflicted delay. Sentencing judges are not obliged to consider Verdins limbs not raised by counsel at the plea.
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