Criminal Flashcards
What are the three components of Actus Reus?
Conduct, Result, Circumstances
Actus Reus refers to the physical act or conduct of a crime.
What is required for the coincidence of Actus Reus and Mens Rea?
There must be coincidence between the AR and MR.
Under what conditions can criminal liability arise from omissions?
- A crime is capable of being committed by omission
- There is a legal duty to act due to:
- Statutory duty
- Special relationship
- Voluntary assumption
- Contractual duty
- Creating a dangerous situation
- Public office
- Breach of duty
- Causation by the AR
- MR if necessary
True or False: Voluntary Act Manslaughter can be committed by omission.
False
Voluntary Act Manslaughter requires an act, not an omission.
What is the ‘but for’ test in causation?
It assesses whether the jury is satisfied that the acts/omission were the actual cause of the result.
What does legal causation refer to?
It refers to being more than de minimis or the ‘operating and substantial’ cause.
What is the Thin Skull Rule?
Criminal liability will stand regardless of any weaknesses or prior injuries of the victim.
What are the two types of intention in Mens Rea?
- Direct intention
- Indirect/oblique intention
What is the standard for recklessness in Mens Rea?
- (1) Awareness or foresight of the existence of a risk at the time of the AR
- And that the risk may occur
- *(2) And D unreasonably took the risk despite the fact the circumstances were known to him
This is judged objectively in the circumstances known to D (e.g like self defence) so therefore it is not an entirely subjective test.
What is the definition of negligence in criminal law?
Where the defendant falls below the standard of a reasonable person.
Fill in the blank: Intoxication can remove the ______ entirely.
MR
What is transferred malice?
It refers to the legal fiction where the MR is transferred from the intended harm to the actual harm caused.
What is the requirement for Gross Negligence Manslaughter?
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation of death
- Obvious and serious risk of death
What is the definition of murder in terms of Actus Reus?
Unlawful killing of another human being under the King’s Peace.
What is Loss of Control (LOC) in the context of voluntary manslaughter?
The defendant must be unable to restrain themselves, and it does not have to be sudden.
Qualifying trigger: The defendant’s loss of self-control was caused by a qualifying trigger, such as fear or anger.
Objective test: A reasonable person of the defendant’s age and sex, with a normal degree of self-restraint and tolerance, would have reacted in a similar way.
What must be proven for Diminished Responsibility?
- Abnormality of mental functioning
- From a recognized medical condition
- Impairs understanding/self-control
- Provides an explanation for the conduct
What does the unlawful act in Unlawful Act Manslaughter (UAM) require?
The defendant must have committed an intentional act that is intrinsically unlawful.
What is the test for S.47 Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm?
It must result from either assault or battery that causes actual bodily harm.
What constitutes Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH)?
Legally defined as really serious harm.
What does S.18 require for a conviction?
There must be intention or ulterior intention to cause wounding or GBH.
What is the Actus Reus (AR) for causing GBH or wounding?
Wounding or infliction of GBH.
What is the Mens Rea (MR) required for causing GBH or wounding?
Intention or ulterior intention to cause wounding or GBH.
Define ulterior intention as per Woollin.
Objective virtual certainty of serious injury; D appreciated that risk.
What is the main difference between the AR and MR of GBH compared to s.20?
The AR is the same, but the MR is more serious due to the requirement of intention.
What does the rhyme ‘hate-18’ signify?
It indicates the most serious level of intentional harm.
In which scenarios is consent recognized as a defense to OAPA offences?
Surgery, body modification, religious flagellation, sports, horseplay, sex.
True or False: Consent is a defense to assault or battery.
True.
True or False: Consent is a defense for actual bodily harm, wounding, or grievous bodily harm.
False.
What is the Actus Reus for burglary under s.9(1)(a)?
Entry into a building as a trespasser.
What is the Mens Rea for burglary under s.9(1)(a)?
Knowledge and recklessness as to entry as a trespasser + intention to commit an offence.
What distinguishes burglary under s.9(1)(a) from s.9(1)(b)?
s.9(1)(a) requires intent at the time of entry; s.9(1)(b) allows intent to form after entry.