1. General Elements Flashcards
What is an Actus Reus?
the physical part of a crime. can be an act or an omission
What is an omission?
when someone fails to act and it results in liability.
What’s the rule for good samaritan rule?
No law on this in the Uk, people have no requirement to help stranger if they’re drowning.
What is Omissions under statue?
Where an act of parliament creates a duty of care.
An example of Omissions under statue?
S.170 of road traffic act 1988
(e.g failure to stop and report an accident)
What are contractual duties?
when a contract creates a duty of care
What is acceptance of care?
when you agree to take care of someone, you have a duty of care for them
Case for acceptance of care?
Stone and Dobinson
Ds accepted care for anorexic sister, she got worse in their care, LBO for manslaughter.
What is duty via relationship?
having a duty of care for someone. only applies to your child or spouse.
Case for duty via relationship?
Gibbons and Proctor
parents neglected 7yr old. she starved to death. LBO for murder
What is creation of danger?
setting a chain of events in motion that caused danger
Case for creation of danger? (fire)
Miller
fell asleep with cigarette, caused fire and woke up but ignored it and moved to another room. LBO for arson
Case for creation of danger? (drugs)
Evans
bought V heroin, she overdosed and they didn’t call ambulance. LBO for her death
What are public duties?
When someone’s job gives them a duty. Eg police, politician
Case for public duties?
Dytham
Police watched bouncer kill man, didn’t intervene. LBO as he had duty to protect V
What is public policy?
When they create a duty to avoid a public outcry
Case for public policy?
Wacker
didnt open air vent in lorry, immigrants in the back suffocated.
Case for contractual duty?
Adomako
doctor didn’t notice oxygen pipe loose. Patient died. LBO as doctors have contractual duty of care for patients
What is Termination of a duty?
When doctors turn off life support if no activity in brain stem cells
Case for termination of duty?
Bland
Had brain activity but would never recover/ wake up. Agreed would be best to stop care. Not LBO as it was in patients best interest
What is factual causation and the case?
The but for test.
White - tried to poison mum but she died of heart attack before. NG of murder as he wasn’t the cause of death
What is legal causation?
A culpable act that is the substantial and operative cause of the result.
Legal causation cases?
Pagett - used gf as shield when shooting at police. Guilty as it was forseeable police would shoot back and she’d be injured
Hughes - V drove recklessly and crashed into D. D had no lisence. NG as Ds driving wasn’t the cause of Vs death, it was Vs fault
What is the thin skull rule?
you must take your victim as you find them
Thin Skull case?
Blaue
Jehovas witness who refused blood which could’ve saved her. D still guilty as religious belief doesn’t break chain
What’s the rule for victims own acts escape?
Only breaks chain if so daft that no reasonable person would foresee it
Case for Vs own acts - Escape?
Roberts
Jumped out of moving vehicle to escape assault. D guilty of ABH as it’s foreseeable she’d try to escape
What is the rule for Vs own acts - Self treatment / refusal?
Refusing medical treatment, even if unreasonable will never break chain
Case for Vs own acts - refusal
Holland
didn’t get infected cut treated, needed arm amputated but refused so died. D guilty of manslaughter as he caused the cut.