Criminal Law Flashcards
Omission to act
Generally no liability, unless there is some basis to impose affirmative duty
Malice Aforethought
Malice exists if defendant intended to kill the victim, intended to inflict great bodily injury, acted with extreme in deference to human life, was engaged in the commission of an inherently dangerous felony.
Intent to Kill Murder - Premeditation
If the killing occurs after defendant thought about the act of killing the victim, turning it over in his mind or giving it a second thought, even if only briefly a prior reflection
Intent to Kill Murder - Deliberation
Requires acting with a cool mind, as opposed to suddenly and impulsively
Deadly Weapon Doctrine
If one uses a weapon, from the manner used, is calculated or likely to produce death or serious bodily injury. Intent to kill is then assumed.
Intent to do serious bodily injury murder
intends to do seriously bodily injury, but who actually succeeds in killing, is guilt of murder in spite of his lack of an intent to kill
Felony Murder Rule
All felons are liable if anyone dies as a proximate result of an inherently dangerous felony.
Gun Battle Rule
If one felon provokes a gun battle, and another felon is killed by the police than any other felon in the gun battle is liable
Felony Murder Rule - Vicarious Liability for Homicide
The strict traditional view is that every felon engaged is liable for any death caused as a proximate cause of the felony. However some courts are now saying that if a third party commits a justified homicide of another felon, there is no liability
Gross Recklessness Depraved-heart Murder
If a killing occurs as a result of conduct by the defendant that shows the defendant has acted with extreme indifference to human life, then the defendant will be deemed to have acted with the requisite malice for murder
First Degree Murder
- First degree murder requires either a finding of intent to kill malice with premeditation and deliberation.
- Felony Murder Rule and the underlying felony is one that is specified by statute as eligible for first degree murder. In most states, robbery along with burglary, arson rape and kidnapping are all underlying felonies sufficient for first-degree murder.
Voluntary Manslaughter
That which would be murder except for adequate provocation or imperfect self-defense
Heat of Passion / Provocation
A charge of voluntary manslaughter rather than murder is proper when the defendant kills in the heat of passion. This mitigating circumstance occurs only if the facts show that four requirements are met: (1) reasonable provocation; (2) the defendant was in fact provoked; (3) a reasonable person would not have cooled off before killing; and (4) the defendant must not in fact have cooled off.
Imperfect Self Defense
If D has an unreasonable, though honest, incorrect belief that the other is committing or attempting a felony, or that the other is a felon trying to escape
Criminal Negligence
D’s conduct, under the circumstances known to him must involve a high degree of risk of death or serious injury, and D is aware of the fact that the risk exists
Battery
the unlawful application of force to the person of another
Intent
D either intentionally injuries, or injuries through criminal negligence (general intent)
Assault
Attempted battery or creating reasonable apprehension of a battery
Rape
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent
Sexual Intercourse
Penetration of V’s vagina by D’s penis
Consent
D reasonably and good faith believes consent, then not guilty (unless consent was received by threat of immediate bodily injury or fraud of the nature of the act)
Mayhem
With intent, unlawfully disfiguring, dismembering, or disabling another person
False Imprisonment
Intentional unlawful confinement of a person
Kidnapping
Intentionally transporting and confining a person against their will by force or threat and without legal authority
Larceny
Trespassory taking and carrying away of the tangible personal property of another with intent to permanently deprive another
Robbery
Larceny from a persons presence by force or threat of force
Permanently Deprive - Fungible Item Exception
If D intends to replace a fungible item at the time of taking, then no crime.
Extortion
Larceny by use of threat of force in the future
Forgery
Fraudulent making of a false writing which has apparent legal significance
Larceny by Trick
Obtaining possession of property of another through false representation with intent to convert and actually converting
Custody
Employee that is limited in what they can do with the property
Possession
Employee that has property and has free use of it
Title
Full right of property
Embezzlement
The fraudulent conversion of the property of another by one who is already in lawful possession of it
False Pretenses
A false representation of a material present or past fact that causes the victim to pass title to his property to the wrongdoer who knows his representation to be false and intends to thereby defraud the victim
Receiving Stolen Property
Receiving stolen property knowing it was stolen with the intent to deprive the owner of the property
Continuing Trespass Doctrine (mistake)
Mistakenly takes what D thinks is theirs, finds out that it’s not, but decides to keep it. Becomes Larceny
Breaking Bulk Doctrine
A common carrier that takes a whole shipment of goods is embezzlement. If only take a portion of it, then Larceny
Victims Mistake
If D is aware of mistake at time they receive property, then Larceny
Finders of Property - Larceny
If D has the intent to steal at time of taking, and there is a reasonable clue as to ownership of property.
Burglary
The common law elements are breaking and entering of a dwelling place at night with the intent to commit a felony therein. The modern rule is that there does not have to be a breaking, the place does not have to be a dwelling, and the entry does not have to be at night