criminal law Flashcards
what is factual causation?
‘but, for’ test = but for the acts or omissions of D, the relevant consequence wouldn’t have occurred in the way it did
what is legal causation?
is the D the operating and substantial cause of the prohibited consequence
(consequence must be caused by D’s culpable act)
what is a novus actus interveniens?
subsequent event or act of either V or third party that is an intervening act breaking chain of causation = D is not criminally liable
what are the 5 ways that an intervening act can occur?
- medical negligence
- acts of third party
- acts of the victim
- thin skull rule
- natural events (acts of god)
what must be proved for act of third party to break chain in causation?
action of third party were ‘free, deliberate and informed’
in fright and flight cases - acts of the victim = how do the court’s assess whether the act of the V should break chain in causation?
jury would have same knowledge as D had at the time D committed the act = subjective
when a victim commits suicide - does the break the chain in causation - what should the courts ask?
whether V’s suicide has been caused by D is a question of fact that juries should apply their common sense to.
what situations is suicide likely to break chain in causation?
V nonetheless dies from original wound
act was reasonably foreseeable
D’s unlawful act was significant and operation cause of death
when do natural events (acts of god) break chain of causation?
only break chain of causation if they are extraordinary and not reasonably foreseeable
what is the process for establishing criminal liability for omissions?
- crime capable of being committed by an omission as some offences can only be committed via an act
- accused under legal duty to act
- accused breach that duty
- break caused AR of offence to occur
- should offence so require, accused had the required MR
when is a person guilty via an omission - legal duty to act? (6 situations)
- statutory duty
- social relationship (doctor/patient, parent/child, spouse)
- voluntary assumption of another
- breach of contractual duty - duty owed by D either to party or third party
- creation of dangerous situation
- public office holders
what is direct intention?
aim of purpose of the D’s act
what is indirect/oblique intention? R v Woollin
death or serious injury was virtually certain as result of D’s actions (objective); and
D appreciated that (subjective)
what is the test for recklessness?
someone takes an unjustifiable risk, aware of the danger that the prohibited harm may occur upon taking that risk.
what is the test for negligence?
D’s actions fall below the standard of a reasonable person
when can oblique intention be used - what type of offences?
can only be used when intention is the ONLY form of MR for offence eg, murder, causing GBH with intent
(if offence includes intention or recklessness then DONT use oblique intention)
motive vs intention
motive can be used as evidence of intention but very clear that intention and motive are not the same
what is recklessness (R v G)?
D is reckless when:
- D foresaw a risk of harm and went ahead anyway; and
- in the circumstances of the D, it was unreasonable to take the risk
what is the continuing act theory?
a D can be guilty of an offence using continuing act theory if they form the MR for the offence at some point during the AR continuing
what is the one transaction principle?
actions of D as a series of acts, making up one transaction. Enough for D to have MR at some point during that transaction
can the one transaction principle be used when there is no prior planning?
yes it can as it has been extended
what is coincidence of AR and MR?
for criminal liability it is required that the guilty act and guilty mind of offence must occur at the same time.
what are the 4 ways that the court have interpreted and included in the coincidence on AR and MR?
- continuing act theory, - one transaction principle,
- transferred malice
- mistake
what is transferred malice?
the MR for an intended harm can be transferred to the actual harm that occurs, as long as MR for the offence is the same
(eg, cant throw rock intending to hit people but actually hit glass = therefore, didn’t have the requisite MR for criminal damage)
if a D doesnt know they are breaking the law - can this negate liability?
no, it cannot = ignorance of the law is no excuse (even if it were impossible for D to know of the prohibition)
if D makes mistake as to an element of AR does this prevent D from having MR?
yes eg, take the wrong umbrellas away from restaurant, mistakenly believing it is their umbrella, then there is no liability for theft because D will not be dishonest.
does mistake need to be reasonable?
if AR is intention or recklessness = no need for mistake to be reasonable
BUT, if it is MR negligence then mistake must be reasonable
what is the AR and MR for murder?
unlawful killing of a human being under the kings peace with malice aforethought (intention to kill or intention to cause GBH)
is diminished responsibility available defence to charge of attempted murder?
no - it is not available
who has the burden of proof for diminished responsibility - voluntary manslaughter?
burden falls upon defence to prove on balance of probabilities that D was acting under diminished responsibility
what are the 4 elements that need to be proven for diminished responsibility?
D must have an abnormality of mental functioning
- this arises from a recognised medical condition
- has substantially impaired D;s ability to understand nature of D’s conduct, form a rational judgment and/or exercise self-control
- provides an explanation for D;s conduct
does the abnormality of mental functioning that arises from a recognised medical condition need to be diagnosed at the time of the killing?
no, it can be diagnosed later as long as that was the recognised medical condition that created the abnormality of mental functioning during the killing
(eg, late diagnosis)
what are the 3 requirements for the loss of control defence (voluntary manslaughter)?
1) D must have lost self-control
2) due to a fear and/ or anger qualifying trigger; and
3) normal person might have acted in a similar way to D
who does the burden of proof rest on for loss of control?
it rests on the prosecution once the issue has been raised - prosecution need to prove that only one of the components is absent for the defence to fail
what are the qualifying triggers for loss of control (voluntary manslaughter)? (fear and anger trigger)
fear: D fears serious violence; and/or
anger trigger: things said and/or done; that constitute circumstances of an extremely grave nature; and that causes D a justifiable sense of being seriously wronged
what are the limitations to the loss of control defence? (there are 4)
1) in an act of ‘considered desire for revenge’
2) as an excuse to use violence
3) if the thing said / done constituted sexual infidelity
4) if D is charged with attempted murder
when the jury assess ‘the normal person’ for loss of control - what 2 things should they consider?
1) the gravity of the qualifying trigger to a person in the D’s circumstances; then
2) whether as a result of that trigger a normal person might have rented in a same or similar way
when a person is intoxicated how can they use the loss of control defence - how does this alter the qualifying triggers?
D’s drug or alcohol addiction can be taken into account when assessing magnitude of qualifying anger trigger if D was taunted about the addiction.
when a person is intoxicated and wanting to rely on loss of control as a defence - how does this alter the normal person test?
If D is addicted to drugs or alcohol this will be a characteristic given to the normal person but the normal person will still have normal levels of tolerance and self-restraint and be sober
when can a person use intoxication with a diminished responsibility defence?
if D has an abnormality of mental functioning AND is voluntary intoxicated
(also arise from alcohol dependency syndrome)
what is the key difference between murder and involuntary manslaughter?
involuntary manslaughter lacks ‘malice aforethought’
what must the prosecution prove for unlawful act manslaughter? (4 elements)
1) D intentionally (voluntarily) did the act
2) the act was unlawful
3) the unlawful act was dangerous; and
4) the unlawful act caused the death of V
can you commit unlawful act manslaughter via an omission?
no - it can only be committed via an act
the element of ‘D intentionally (voluntarily) did the act’ for unlawful act manslaughter = what do they need to intend?
they need to intend the act therefore, dont need to have regard to the consequences that flow from the act
what approach is taken for ‘unlawful act must be dangerous’ unlawful act manslaughter?
object test - ask: if all sober and reasonable people would inevitably recognise must subject the other person to, at least, the risk of some harm, albeit not serious harm
if D supplies V with drugs, or assists V, does D cause V’s death under unlawful act manslaughter?
no - so long as V is a fully informed and responsible adult who freely and voluntarily self-administers
what type of harm falls under unlawful act manslaughter?
physical harm, not emotional harm but it does include stock that produces physical effects
what are the requirements for gross negligence manslaughter (Adomako)?
1) the existence of a duty of care (positive act or omission)
2) breach of that duty
3) breach causes death (factual and legal causation)
4) there was a risk of death (an obvious and serious risk not merely of injury or even serious injury, but of death)
5) the breach of duty was so bad as to amount to ‘gross negligence’
can a person commit indirect battery?
yes - the force is used through an intermediary medium (eg, water) to apply force, resulting in harm