Former Royal Hobart Hospital doctor found not guilty on reasons of insanity

A former Royal Hobart Hospital doctor, accused of choking and assaulting a nurse, has held back tears as she argued her case in court.

Arlene Maree Taylor leaving the Supreme Court in Hobart. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

A JURY has taken fewer than two hours to find former Royal Hobart Hospital doctor Arlene Maree Taylor not guilty by reason of insanity after she assaulted a nurse in 2015.

Dr Taylor, 35, was a patient at the Royal Hobart Hospital’s psychiatric intensive care unit in 2015 when she grabbed a nurse in a headlock and dragged her out of her bedroom door on September 24.

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Dr Taylor, who represented herself, previously told the jury she did not dispute that a scuffle took place in a trial that took three days.

In her closing submissions today, Dr Taylor held back tears as she told the jury she was “not on trial here for having a mental health history”.

“In the context that I am an individual with no prior convictions of assault on another person and of otherwise good character, the repeated inference of the Crown that I am more likely to have intended to assault a person based on having a mental health history leads me to conclude that the state of Tasmania, as represented by the Crown’s Mr Jacobs in this matter, still holds the outdated and incorrect belief that individuals with mental health concerns are more likely to be perpetrators of violence than those without,” Dr Taylor told the court.

Arlene Maree Taylor leaves the Supreme Court with her assistance dog. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The 35-year-old doctor told the court she was “appalled” by the “unfounded stigma” towards people experiencing mental health conditions.

In his closing submissions, Crown prosecutor Tony Jacobs responded to Dr Taylor’s brutal speech.

“I suggest it was a proper, reasonable and desirable thing for the Crown to call on appropriate psychiatrists to give their opinions in a complicated matter like this,” Mr Jacobs said.

Mr Jacobs told the court both doctors called to testify agreed Dr Taylor suffered from a brief period of temporary insanity.

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“So with respect I would suggest that your verdict should be not guilty on the grounds of insanity. That doesn’t mean quite the same thing as a verdict of not guilty because other decisions have to made by His Honour in the context of that mental incapacity,” he said.

Dr Taylor also told the court the two witnesses provided by the Crown did not compliment each other and had differing recounts of the incident.

Psychiatric nurse Jennifer Symonds told the court earlier this week she saw her colleague being strangled by Dr Taylor.

“(Symonds) contradicts herself … she was also unable to say which arm was used in the headlock. It’s unlikely she truly has a clear picture of the moment in her mind, a clear memory of that headlock,” Dr Taylor said.

The incident happened inside the Royal Hobart Hospital.

The doctor admitted to the court her actions on the day of the incident were “due to temporary insanity that can be attributed to involuntary intoxication”.

Dr Taylor referred to the high amount of clonazepam in her system at the time of the attack — equating to 45 valium tablets.

“I am autistic and the evidence presented is there is a high risk of aggression and agitation for individuals who are autistic when prescribed clonazepam,” she said.

“The impact of the clonazepam was profound. Shortly after the incidents, I engaged in behaviour completely out of character.

“I wrote on the wall with blood, ate pieces of a board game and took a shower fully clothed.”

In advising the jury, Acting Justice David Porter told the group not to speculate why the victim hadn’t been called as a witness.

For 24/7 crisis support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, visit www.lifeline.org.au or Kids Helpline www.kidshelp.com.au or call 1800 551 800.

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