Criminal Law Flashcards
What is the actus reus for murder?
Unlawful
Killing
Human being
Kings peace
What is the Mens Rea for murder?
Malice aforethought
Intention to kill or intention to cause grievous bodily harm
What is factual causation for result crimes?
But for
What is legal causation for result crimes?
Substantial cause of prohibited harm, more than minimal
What does grevious bodily harm mean?
Serious harm
How is intention to be defined?
The jury decides
When can the jury find oblique intent for murder?
Death or serious injury was a virtual certainty
Defendant knew that
Is oblique intention intention?
No, it is evidence of intention
Is motive intention?
No, it is evidence of intention
Can you be reckless for murder?
No
What does special defence mean?
The defence only applies to that crime
What is diminished responsibility a defence for?
Murder
What is the effect of diminished responsibility on the murder charge?
Result in voluntary manslaughter
What is the mandatory length of a murder sentence?
Life
Who has the burden to prove diminished responsibility?
The defendant
For diminished responsibility to apply, what is the list of 3 things whereby 1 of them must have been impaired?
Conduct
Rational judgement
Exercise self-control
How is abnormality of mental functioning defined for diminished responsibility?
State of mind so different from that of ordinary human beings that the reasonable man would term it abnormal
What 3 characteristics must the abnormality of mental functioning have for diminished responsibility to apply?
Arise from medical condition
Have substantially impaired (more than trivial) (conduct, rational judgement, self-control)
Provide an explanation for Ds conduct
Is diminished responsibility available for attempted murder?
No
What are the 2 special defences for murder?
Diminished responsibility
Loss of control
What are the 3 elements to prove for loss of control?
D must have lost self-control
Due to fear and/or anger qualifying trigger
A normal person might have acted in a similar way to D
Who has the burden of proof for loss of control?
Prosecution needs to prove at least one of the components is absent
Who decides whether the defendant lost control or just lost their temper?
Jury
What are the 2 qualifying triggers for loss of control?
Fear of serious violence
Anger