Case Law

Question 1

Hayes

Pecuniary advantage

Answer 1

A pecuniary advantage is “anything that enhances the accused’s financial position. It is that enhancement which constitutes the element of advantage.”

Question 2

Cameron

Answer 2

Recklessness is established if:
the defendant recognised that there was a real possibility that:

his or her actions would bring about the proscribed result; and/or

that the proscribed circumstances existed; and

having regard to that risk those actions were unreasonable.

Question 3

Misic

Answer 3

“Essentially a document is a thing which provides evidence or information or serves as a record.”

Question 4

Morley

intention to deceive

Answer 4

An intention to deceive requires that

the deception is practised in order to deceive the affected party.

Purposeful intent is necessary and must exist at the time of the deception.

Question 5

Fisher v Raven

Answer 5

‘Credit’ refers to the obligation on the debtor to pay or repay, and the time given for them to do so by the creditor. Credit does not extend to an obligation to supply services or goods:

Question 6

R v McKay

Answer 6

On appeal it was held that the credit had been obtained on booking in but at that time the accused did not possess an intent to deceive.

Question 7

R v Laverty

Answer 7

It is necessary for the prosecution to prove that the person parting with the property was induced to do so by the false representation made.

Question 8

R v Cox

Answer 8

Possession involves two elements. The first, the physical element, is actual or potential physical custody or control. The second, the mental element is a combination of knowledge and intention: knowledge in the sense of an awareness by the accused that the substance is in his possession and an intention to exercise possession.

Question 9

Hayes

Reasonable belief

Answer 9

The question is whether the belief is actually held, not whether that belief is reasonable. However, reasonableness may be relevant as evidence on the issue of whether the belief was actually held:

Question 10

Hayes

unsuccessful attempt

Answer 10

“An unsuccessful use of a document is as much use as a successful one. An unsuccessful use must not be equated conceptually with an attempted one. The concept of attempt relates to use not to the ultimate obtaining of a pecuniary advantage, which is not a necessary element of the offence. Because the use does not have to be successful it may be difficult to draw a clear line between use and attempted use.”

Question 11

r v Morley

Representations

Answer 11

Representations must relate to a statement of existing fact, rather than a statement of future intention.