A provisional psychologist lacks sufficient expertise to diagnose dissociative and fugue complications of PTSD, to opine on causation between PTSD and offending, or to recommend hospitalisation — such opinions are usually within the province of a clinical or forensic psychologist or psychiatrist. Where an offender was aware of a propensity for blackouts from voluntary intoxication that triggered offending, self-induced intoxication does not reduce moral culpability even where PTSD is causally related to the offending. For aggravated robbery involving prolonged group violence against defenceless victims in a public place, immediate imprisonment of 2 years (after 25% guilty plea discount) is within the appropriate range.
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