Where a sentencing judge makes specific findings as to the severity of an offender's mental impairment (including psychotic features, dissociative state, and significantly reduced capacity to comprehend consequences or control actions), a finding that the impairment was only just within the threshold for the partial defence of substantial impairment is inconsistent with those findings and requires reasons to be given. The uncontradicted opinions of independent, qualified psychiatrists should not be rejected without adequate reasons.
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