Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / 'n Kort elementologiese uiteensetting vir strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid word gevolg deur bewysregtelike begrippe wat van toepassing is op vermoedens by toerekeningsvatbaarheid. Die historiese regsposisie asook die ontwikkeling in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse reg met betrekking tot geestesongesteldes, kinders en persone wat 'n verweer van nie-patologiese ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid insluit, word bespreek. Daar word gekonsentreer op ·die ontwikkeling van 'n algemene verweer van niepatologiese ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid. Die konstitusionele reg, vennoedens en ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid word aan die hand van Suid-Afrikaanse regspraak en die Interim Grondwet bespreek. Daar word na buitelandse reg gekyk ten einde 'n aanbeveling te kan maak wat grondwetlik nie sal indruis op die reg van die individu tot onskuld nie. 'n Algemene verweer van nie-patologiese ontoerekeningvatbaarheid word onderstellll mits dit met omsigtigheid deur die howe benader word. Die arbitrere ouderdomsgrens vir vasstelling van toerekeningsvatbaarheid by kinders word gekritiseer en 'n verhoorbaarheidvasstellingseenheid word aanbeveel. / A short elementological discussion of criminal responsibility is followed by concepts of law of evidence that is applicable to presumptions of accountability. The historical legal position as well as the development in the current South African law and the present legal position with reference to the mentally disturbed children and persons with a defence of non-pathological unaccountability are included and discussed. The constitutional law, presumptions and unaccountablility are discussed with reference to the South African case law and the Interim Constitution. Foreign law is perused so that a recommendation could be made that would not interfere with the rights of the individual to be deemed innocent. A general defence of non-pathological unaccountability is supported if it is treated with the necessary circumspection by the courts. The arbitrary age boundaries for the determination of accountability in children is critized and a unit to determine trialability for pathological and non-pathological accountability is recommended. / Criminal & Procedural Law / LL.M.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / 'n Kort elementologiese uiteensetting vir strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid word gevolg deur bewysregtelike begrippe wat van toepassing is op vermoedens by toerekeningsvatbaarheid. Die historiese regsposisie asook die ontwikkeling in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse reg met betrekking tot geestesongesteldes, kinders en persone wat 'n verweer van nie-patologiese ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid insluit, word bespreek. Daar word gekonsentreer op ·die ontwikkeling van 'n algemene verweer van niepatologiese ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid. Die konstitusionele reg, vennoedens en ontoerekeningsvatbaarheid word aan die hand van Suid-Afrikaanse regspraak en die Interim Grondwet bespreek. Daar word na buitelandse reg gekyk ten einde 'n aanbeveling te kan maak wat grondwetlik nie sal indruis op die reg van die individu tot onskuld nie. 'n Algemene verweer van nie-patologiese ontoerekeningvatbaarheid word onderstellll mits dit met omsigtigheid deur die howe benader word. Die arbitrere ouderdomsgrens vir vasstelling van toerekeningsvatbaarheid by kinders word gekritiseer en 'n verhoorbaarheidvasstellingseenheid word aanbeveel. / A short elementological discussion of criminal responsibility is followed by concepts of law of evidence that is applicable to presumptions of accountability. The historical legal position as well as the development in the current South African law and the present legal position with reference to the mentally disturbed children and persons with a defence of non-pathological unaccountability are included and discussed. The constitutional law, presumptions and unaccountablility are discussed with reference to the South African case law and the Interim Constitution. Foreign law is perused so that a recommendation could be made that would not interfere with the rights of the individual to be deemed innocent. A general defence of non-pathological unaccountability is supported if it is treated with the necessary circumspection by the courts. The arbitrary age boundaries for the determination of accountability in children is critized and a unit to determine trialability for pathological and non-pathological accountability is recommended. / Criminal and Procedural Law / LL.M.