Psychologist questions 'sane automatism' defence

Willows was called as a 'court' witness by Judge Kate Pillay after the state obtained a report from him but decided not to call him to testify. Longano has been charged with the August 2010 murder of his girlfriend Vinoba Naidoo (35), who died of suffocation after Longano allegedly stood on her neck. He has put up a rare defence - sane automatism - in which a person involuntarily commits acts while in an altered state of mind. The report adds in his testimony, Longano said that, on the day of the murder he and Naidoo were dividing up their possessions when an argument over curtains became heated and Naidoo attacked him with a candlestick. Longano said he did remember what happened after he was attacked but he had told police that he had 'stepped on her neck'. Two psychologists argued that Longano's mental state on the day of the murder was consistent with a person in a state of sane automatism. Willows said that when dealing with this type of defence, 'there would be a focus on the nature of relationship as this defence is often used in instances where there are close relationships between the accused and the deceased. The reports seem to be lacking in this regard.' Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)