State v. Eager.

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

RECKTENWALD, C.J.

This ease requires us to consider whether a defendant’s failure to take prescription medication can constitute self-induced intoxication under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 702-230, which precludes the defendant from relying on the defense of lack of penal responsibility due to a physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect. We hold that it does not, and that the defense is therefore available in the circumstances presented here.

Defendant Samuel Eager was charged with assault in the second degree after attacking a stranger at a bus stop, and a…