9. Criminal Capacity and Defences Flashcards

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1
Q

Under what age are children not criminally culpable?

A

Under ten

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2
Q

What is the test for whether a defendant is fit to plead?

A

Of sufficient intellect to comprehend the course of proceedings in the trial as to:

  1. Make a proper defence
  2. Challenge a juror to whom they may wish to object, and
  3. Comprehend details of evidence
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3
Q

Where a defendant is not fit to plead, what will the court do?

A

Decide whether they committed the crime on the actus reus alone

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4
Q

What are the options for the court regarding a convicted deemed to have committed the actus reus but who is otherwise unfit to plead?

A
  1. Send to hospital for a set period
  2. Supervision order
  3. Absolute discharge
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5
Q

When a defendant charged with murder is unfit to plead, what is the court obliged to do?

A

Send the defendant to hospital for an indefinite period

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6
Q

Regarding intoxication, what does the law draw a line between?

A

Voluntary and involuntary intoxication

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7
Q

What have the courts held when a defendant becomes intoxicated through no fault of their own?

A

They may not be able to form the mental state required for the offence

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8
Q

When will involuntary intoxication not be available, and what facts will be a tip off to this?

A

Not available where the intent was not formed by the intoxicated state, but rather their desires and tendencies toward the behaviour

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9
Q

Is involuntary intoxication available where the defendant underestimates the strength of their own drink?

A

No

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10
Q

However, what occurs where the intoxication is part voluntary and part involuntary, i.e. defendant was drinking but was also spiked?

A

The court will consider the effect of each aspect on the conduct

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11
Q

When considering voluntary intoxication, what are the two things the court will consider?

A
  1. Whether the drug was dangerous or non-dangerous,
  2. And, if dangerous, whether the offence was basic intent or specific intent
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12
Q

Will voluntary intoxication by a non-dangerous substance negate mens rea?

A

Yes, subject to the proviso that intoxicated intent is still intent

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13
Q

Will voluntary intoxication by a dangerous substance negate mens rea?

A

Only if the offence is one of specific intent

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14
Q

In what specific intent situation will a voluntarily intoxicated person still be guilty?

A

Where they become intoxicated only to gain the courage to commit the offence

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15
Q

Why is intoxication not a defence to strict liability offences?

A

Because strict liability offences have no mens rea requirement

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16
Q

For self-defence to be available, what three things must the defendant be acting to protect, or what other two things must they be trying to do?

A

Protect:
1. Self
2. Another, or
3. Property

or

  1. Prevent crime, or
  2. Effect lawful arrest
17
Q

To rely on self-defence, what must the defendant subjectively believe?

A

That force is immediately required

18
Q

To rely on self-defence, what must be true of the force used?

A

Defendant must believe the force is immediately required, and it must be objectively proportionate based on the facts that the defendant subjectively believes them to be

19
Q

Regarding the amount of force used, what is the standard where the defendant is a householder acting against an intruder who has entered their home?

A

The householder may use any force as long as it is not grossly or unreasonably disproportionate

20
Q

In determining what is grossly or unreasonably disproportionate, what will the court consider?

A

Decisions that were made in the heat of the moment

21
Q

In addition to being in their dwelling, what are the two other criteria the defendant must satisfy to rely on the householder exception?

A

Defendant must:
1. Not be a trespasser, and
2. Believe that the victim is a trespasser

22
Q

What are the three requirements for the defence of necessity?

A
  1. Act was required to avoid an inevitable evil
  2. Defendant only did what was reasonably necessary
  3. What they inflicted was not disproportionate to what was avoided
23
Q

What offence is necessity not available for, and what is the effect of this?

A

Murder, therefore if someone is faced with the choice of killing another or dying/being killed themselves, the law will not excuse them if they do not sacrifice themselves.

Law technically silent on whether necessity is available for attempted murder.

24
Q

In what limited circumstances is duress available?

A

When defendant was subjected to threats and committed an offence to avoid the threats being realised

25
Q

What offences is duress not available for, and how is this different to necessity?

A

Murder and attempted murder. In theory attempted murder is not precluded from necessity.

26
Q

What are the five requirements for duress?

A
  1. Threat must be of death or serious injury
  2. Threat must be against defendant, their close friend/relative, or someone from whom they feel responsible
  3. Defendant must have good cause to feel fear
  4. Person of reasonable firmness would have reacted the same
  5. Threat must be sufficiently immediate with no opportunity to take evasive action
27
Q

Even when the conditions are met, when is duress not available?

A

When the defendant voluntarily associates with the maker of the threat, knowing of their tendencies