Personality disorders are no longer categorically excluded from the Verdins sentencing principles in Victoria. Whether an offender's personality disorder engages any of the Verdins principles depends on the expert evidence in the individual case, not on the diagnostic label. The statements in O'Neill and Hayes to the contrary should no longer be followed. Expert reports on personality disorders must comply with Practice Note SC CR 7 and must establish the nature and extent of impairment of mental functioning and its causal connection to the offending.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 136 later cases that cite this judgment.
26 of the 136 citing cases carry a classified treatment. How each court treated it is available to signed-in members.