The first Verdins principle (reduced moral culpability due to mental impairment) cannot be applied where there is no evidentiary foundation establishing a causal link between the psychological condition and the specific offending; the mere coincidence of a generalised reduction in clear and reasoned consequential thinking and an instance of offending does not of itself establish the requisite nexus. Pre-sentence detention should be declared at the earliest opportunity; failure to do so creates difficulties for later sentencing courts, and it is not appropriate to contend that a sentencing judge erred for not scouring the whole history of remand reaching back into distant time when the issue was not raised.
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