Criminal Law Flashcards
Mens Rea Transferred Intent, exception?
No transferred intent for an attempted crime
Attempt: AR & MR
AR - An act beyond mere preparation (1) CL proximity test asks whether D came DANGEROUSLY CLOSE to completing the crime (2) MPC & MD asks whether defendant made a SUBSTANTIAL STEP to completing the crime MR - Specific Intent
Homicide, Murder, Types of Malice
(1) Intent to Kill (2) Intent to inflict great bodily harm (3) Reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life (depraved heart) (4) Felony Homicide
Homicide: Voluntary Manslaughter, Imperfect defense
If D kills victim with HONEST but UNREASONABLE belief victim was going to kill D, D is guilty of voluntary manslaughter, not murder
Rape: Consent/Withdrawal
V must be capable of giving consent –Can’t give consent if mentally incompetent, drugged, or unconscious –Withdrawal of consent post penetration can lead to rape
Parties to Crimes- Accomplice
Mens Rea: Accomplice must aid or encourage w/ intent that the principal commit the crime - mere presence at scene or mere knowledge does NOT prove accomplice liability Guilty of not only intended crime, but also reasonably foreseeable additional crimes. Can be guilty even if principal is not convicted
Insanity- MPC Test
D not guilty if as a result of mental disease lacks substantial capacity to appreciate what what he did was wrong or to conform his conduct to requirements of the law.
Larceny: Mens Rea Exceptions (3)
- -Continuing trespass doctrine (Wrongful taking with no intent to steal can be larceny if intent formed later)
- -D’s subjective belief that property belongs to D negates intent
- -Property that is being held as security for legitimate debt is NOT larceny
Burglary: Mens Rea
Specific Intent (D broke and entered for purposes of committing a felony, which need not actually have been committed)
- -Intent must exist at time of entry
- -If no intent to commit a felony, only B&E
- -In MD: Intent to commit ANY crime (not just a felony) is burglary
MD Consolidated Theft Statute: What Common Law Omissions Does it Add?
Services, improper use of another’s personal property
- -defined as ANYTHING of value
- -covers intent to deprive for ANY period of time
Mens Rea: Concurrent Intent (MD)
If D shoots multiple bullets at one victim who defendant intends to kill, D may be guilty of attempted murder of another person inside the “kill zone”
Defenses- Entrapment
Applies only to government conduct - intent to commit crime was created by gov’t action Predisposition test- Not avail if D was predisposed to commit crime - MD follows this Cannot deny crime and also argue entrapment
Defenses- Necessity
Choice of evils defense- D committed a crime to avoid greater immediate harm Honest, reasonable belief of need to act out of necessity is a valid defense, even if mistaken Does NOT apply to future harm
Burglary: What is a dwelling (Common Law AND MD)?
Common Law: Only places used regularly for sleeping
MD: Places used regularly for sleeping plus schools, public buildings, etc.
Conspiracy: AR & MR
AR - An agreement between 2 or more persons to accomplish a criminal or unlawful purpose, or to accomplish a lawful purpose by unlawful means; —–CL & MD do not require an overt act MR - Specific intent, the purpose of the agreement is to actually achieve the objective of the agreement
Rape: Sex induced by fraud
Fraud involving the nature of the act - no consent Fraud involving collateral matter - valid consent
Statutory Rape:
Sexual Intercourse with underage female –Consent of female is not a defense –Strict liability
Defenses- Duress
D not guilty of crimes committed under duress - does not apply to homicide Requires immediate infliction of death or serious bodily harm to D or 3rd person
Homicide: Manslaughter
Homicide without malice
Parties to Crimes- Protected Class Exception
Members of a protected class cannot be guilty as an accomplice - eg. 13 yr. old is not an accomplice to statutory rape when she encourages a 25 yr. old male to have consensual sex with her
Parties to Crimes- Withdrawal
To avoid conviction accomplice must neutralize earlier assistance - possible defense - eg. notify police, take back gun, warn victim
Homicide, Felony Murder - Definition
A homicide that occurs during commission of certain felonies is murder – Felony must be inherently dangerous —– MD, MRS. BAKER Felony must be independent of the killing
Battery: AR & MR
AR - Unlawful application of force resulting in bodily injury or offensive touching MR - General Intent
Insanity- Irresistible Impluse Test
Mental illness caused sudden urge to commit crime that could not be resisted
Elements of Larceny: Taking
Possession and control inconsistent with the rights of the true owner.
Homicide: 2nd Degree Murder
Any murder that is not 1st degree murder MD - Felony murder based on a non-MRS. BAKER felony
Embezzelment: Mens Rea
Specific Intent: D has the intent to permanently deprive, which must exist at the time of the conversion.
Involuntary Intoxication
When D is forced to use an intoxicating substance by duress, or w/o knowledge of intoxicating influence of the substance Complete defense if results in D satisfying insanity test.
Defenses- Duress MARYLAND
Duress can mitigate murder to manslaughter. Not available to gang members. Valid defense to felony murder if felony was committed under duress
Rape: Resistance and threat
Resistance is not required Threat of force must involve immediate, serious, bodily harm
MD Consolidated Theft Statute: What Crimes Does it Cover?
Larceny, Embezzelement and False Pretenses
Homicide: Felony murder - timing
Homicide must be during the commission of the felony —Escape is part of the felony —Commission of the felony is considered complete if felon reaches place of safety
Arson
Malicious burning of another’s dwelling - not merely items inside dwelling - need fire, not mere blackening, smoke or water damage - Mens rea: Malice MPC- intent can be proven by purpose, knowledge, or recklessness - Negligence not sufficient MD- Setting fire to any building, vehicle, boat or personal property - “of another” not required - “dwelling” expanded
Defenses- Self Defense and Defense of Others- MARYLAND
Duty to retreat unless in own home or victim of robbery Can protect a 3rd person if honest and reasonable belief of right of 3rd person to use self defense even if wrong.
Homicide or Fetuscide
Homicide if the baby is born alive, but dies from a prenatal injury If victim is never born alive it is fetuscide MD - Homicide if D attacks pregnant woman with intent (purpose) to kill unborn baby if viable at time of the attack
Homicide: Voluntary Manslaughter Adequate Provocation vs. Inadequate Provocation
Adequate: CL, but not MD finding spouse having sex with another Inadequate: Mere words