Criminal Flashcards
Criminal Law
- Criminal prescribes conduct perceived as threating, harmful or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety and welfare of peoples incluse of one’s self
- While criminal law aims to punish individuals who commit crimes, tort law aims to compensate individuals who suffer harm
Department of Justice
Usual prosecuter
ICAC
Enforcement authority
- Anti corruption and bribary
Hong Kong Police Force
- Safeguarding national security
- Protecting life and property
- Preventing and detecting crime
- Maintaining law and order in Hong Kong
- The HKPF is dedicated to garnering community support and maintaining public trust in the police force
Perjury
- Lying in court
Witnesses
When breaching Criminal Law
There is a criminal punishment
Magistrates
(district based)
Actus Reus
action or conduct which is a constituent element of a crime
Mens Rea
the mental state of the accused.
Elements of Actus Reus
- Physical acts. D’s physical actions
- Results of the effect of D
- Circumstances, the facts surronding D’s conduct
Failure of Proff Defences
- Where D demonstrates that there are factual holes in the prosecution’s case
- This can be done by defence councel’s cross examination of prosecution witnesses
- Or by evidence introduced through defecne witnesses
Cross Examination
The witness will have to answer questions posed by the other party or by the presiding officer.
Defence
Insanity
- Mental illness exists and is beyond the control of the afflicted person
- This illness interferes with important psychological functions
Insanity defence
- Hk Law recognizes the defnce of insanity
- Those diagnosed with insanity they are subject to be instituionalized in a facily for treatment
Suspended Sentance
- Sentance served after x amount of time
Statutory Offences
- Created by Statutes, rather than common law
- They are not developed in the courts but by the legislators
Summary Offences
Less serious offences
Indictable offences
More serious offences
Admissbility of Evidence
Practice directions for questioning
- A breach of this may lead to an exclusion of a statement by D from being admitted as evidence in court
- Forced/Induced/Frightened
- voir dire, involuntary confession
Cautioned Statement
“anything you say and do can be used against you in the court of law”
Criminal Procedure
- Entrance into the Criminal procedure starts with arrest and the laying of charges
- The executive prosecutres the defendant. In HK the DOJ controls criminal prosecutions
Bail
- Can be freed for a certain amount of money
Adjournment
Extension of time
Reception Centre’s
Where defendants are held until sentancing