I think his defence wanted him to be assessed (Reprieve even payed for an appropriately qualified psychologist to fly out and assess him - the Chinese agreed to this, but then changed their minds), but the Chinese repeatedly opposed the idea.

He'd also been living rough in Poland for several years, so I imagine that's why there was a lack of proof (although I do consider a psychiatrist's interpretation of behavioural reports proof, and these are often a feature when forming a diagnosis), because he was off the radar as it were - one of the difficulties in the UK is assessing our own homeless for mental health issues, let alone British individuals who are slumming it in other countries. But from what I've read (statements on the Reprieve website from people who knew him), it certainly sounds like he was not the full ticket.

In my view, what stinks about all of this, is it's not that they executed a drug smuggler, as nobody would disagree with that. It's that they did not allow him to be assessed by a mental health professional. If what they actually did was execute somebody who lacked any kind of self-control because they experienced life like it was a Roger Rabbit cartoon, then I think it is barbaric. It would be like sentencing the two suicide bombers who reportedly had Down's Syndrome to execution, if their bombs had not gone off (I say this only if he were as ill as people argued).

If the Chinese were so convinced that he didn't have mental health problems, why wouldn't they assess him? From the British side, we had qualified professionals arguing that it seemed likely that like he had mental health problems. The Chinese response was that the officials of the courts were of the opinion that he was sane, and did not need to be assessed.

Why were no statements issued by any health professionals from their side? Surely if would have made diplomatic sense to have him assessed, considering several Western nations had condemned the whole situation.

Although I do wonder if perhaps he was assessed, but no clinician had the conscience to certify him as sane.

Bi-polar disorder is a condition that affects mood, not cognition.

There is much discussion in legal circles over whether it can be accurately used as a defence at all, since those with this condition suffer mood swings - from extreme euphoria to deep depression - but this does not affect their ability to know right from wrong.

Sunami,

Interesting point, and you are correct in that bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. However, it is wrong to assume that mood disorders only effect ones mood. On a basic level, even mood disorders such as depression effect an individuals cognition - for example such individuals tend to suffer from a higher level of maladaptive/negative attributions compared to healthy individuals. And if IIRC, one of the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder (according to the DSM) includes hallucinations - which is cognition.

I'm very happy to accept that others have said that China have acted within their own laws (I wasn't surprised that the media have misinterpreted this & found the follow up posts very interesting), but I will not accept that one can dichotomise an individuals mood and an individuals cognition... And I am saying this as an individual who researches such disorders.

However, if you could kindly provide a link to the debate which sugggests cognition & mood are seperate, I would be very grateful

Oh, and happy new year

and this to me looks rather like a man who started mad, maybe by pursuing something towards his religious objectives became bad, and ended up, briefly, sad.

And made most of ARRSE glad.

brilliant news, its made my christmas !

Sunami,

Interesting point, and you are correct in that bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. However, it is wrong to assume that mood disorders only effect ones mood. On a basic level, even mood disorders such as depression effect an individuals cognition - for example such individuals tend to suffer from a higher level of maladaptive/negative attributions compared to healthy individuals. And if IIRC, one of the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder (according to the DSM) includes hallucinations - which is cognition.

I'm very happy to accept that others have said that China have acted within their own laws (I wasn't surprised that the media have misinterpreted this & found the follow up posts very interesting), but I will not accept that one can dichotomise an individuals mood and an individuals cognition... And I am saying this as an individual who researches such disorders.

However, if you could kindly provide a link to the debate which sugggests cognition & mood are seperate, I would be very grateful

Oh, and happy new year

Begad.