During the evening of February 19th, 1973, Majewski (D) and a friend went to the Bull public house in Basildon. Both men were drunk, and D was under the influence of barbiturates and amphetamines. D's friend became involved in a dispute, and the D prevented the landlord from abusing his friend. The landlord told both of them to go, and they refused. D punched landlord in the face. D asserts that he had no memory of the incident due to his intoxication and that therefore he could not have developed the mens rea to commit the crime. D was convicted in the lower courts and appeals here.