(A) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a crime that, at the time of the commission of the act constituting the offense, the defendant, as a result of mental disease or defect, lacked the capacity to distinguish moral or legal right from moral or legal wrong or to recognize the particular act charged as morally or legally wrong.
(B) The defendant has the burden of proving the defense of insanity by a preponderance of the evidence.
(C) Evidence of a mental disease or defect that is manifested only by repeated criminal or other antisocial conduct is not sufficient to establish the defense of insanity.
HISTORY: 1984 Act No. 396, Section 1; 1988 Act No. 323, Section 1; 1989 Act No. 93, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 17 - Criminal Procedures
Chapter 24 - Mentally Ill Or Insane Defendants
Section 17-24-10. Affirmative defense.
Section 17-24-20. Guilty but mentally ill; general requirements for verdict.
Section 17-24-30. Form of verdict.
Section 17-24-40. Commitment of person found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Section 17-24-60. Petition by attorney of defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Section 17-24-70. Sentencing of defendant found guilty but mentally ill.