definitions Flashcards
Rape
Person A rapes person B if person A has sexual connection with person B, effected by the penetration of person B’s genitalia by person A’s penis - (a) without person B’s consent to the connection and (b) without believing on reasonable grounds that person B consents to the connection Section 128(2), Crimes Act 1961
Maims
will include mutilating, crippling or disabling a part of the body so victim is deprived the use of a limb or one of the senses. Needs to be some degree of permanence
Grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm can be defined simply as “harm that is really serious”
Doing an indecent act on a young person
Doing an indecent act on a young person includes sexually assaulting the young person Section 134(6)(b)
Doing an indecent act on a child
Doing an indecent act on a child includes sexually assaulting the child Section 132(6)(b)
If such an act is done with the consent of a young person / child
If such an act is done with the consent of a child / young person, it is immaterial whether - the offender does the act on the child / young person - the child / young person does the act on the offender - the act is mutual
Indecent act
An act that is indecent has sexual connotations and includes conduct directed at a person that is offensive to public moral values
Young person
Young person means a person under the age of 16 years Section 134(6)(a), Crimes Act 1961
Child
Child means a person under the age of 12 years Section 132(6)(a), Crimes Act 1961
Proving age
In practice this generally involves producing the victims birth certificate in conjunction with independent evident that identifies the victim as the person named in the certificate
Sexual Violation
Sexual violation is the act of a person who (a) Rapes another person or (b) has unlawful sexual connection with another person Section 128(1), Crimes Act 1961
Intent
In a criminal law context there are two specific types of intention in an offence, firstly there must be an intention to commit the act and secondly an intention to get a specific result
Assault
Assault means the act of intentionally applying or attempting to apply force to the person of another directly or indirectly, or threatening by any act or gesture to apply such force to the person of another, if the person making the threat has, or causes the other to believe on reasonable grounds that he has, present ability to effect his purpose, and to assault has a corresponding meaning Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Sexual connection
(a) Connection effected by the introduction into the genitalia or anus of one person, otherwise than for genuine medical reasons of (i) a part of the body of another person or (ii) an object held or manipulated by another person or (b) Connection between the mouth or tongue of one one person and a part of another persons genitalia or anus or (c) continuation of connection of a kind described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Unlawful sexual connection
Person A has unlawful sexual connection with person B if Person A has sexual connection with person A (a) without person B’s consent to the connection and (b) without believing on reasonable grounds that person B consents to the connection Section 128(3), Crimes Act 1961
Controlled Drug
Means any substance, preparation, mixture or article specified or described in schedule 1, schedule 2 or schedule 3 of this Act, and includes any controlled drug analogue ,Section 2, Misuse of drugs Act 1975
Reasonable grounds
The establishing of reasonable grounds is a three step process Subjective test step 1 Absence of consent What was the complainant thinking at the time? was s/he consenting? Subjective test step 2 Belief in consent If s/he were not consenting did the offender believe the complainant was consenting? i.e. what was the offender thinking at the time. Objective test step 3 Reasonable grounds for belief in consent If the offender believed the complainant was consenting, was that belief reasonable in the circumstances. i.e. what would a reasonable person have believed if placed in the same position as the defendant?
Matters that do not constitute consent
- Not protesting or offering physical resistance to use of force - Application of force to self or other, threats of force to self or others, or fear of force to self or others - Asleep or unconscious - So affected by drugs/alcohol they cannot consent - So affected by mental or physical impairment they cannot consent - Mistaken identity - Mistaken as to the nature and quality of the act
Consent
Consent is a persons conscious and voluntary agreement to something desired or proposed by another
Penis
Penis includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to a naturally occurring penis (whether the person concerned is male, female or of indeterminate sex) Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Genitalia
Genitalia includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to naturally occurring male or female genitalia (whether the person concerned is male, female or of indeterminate sex) Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Proof of penetration is required
Proof may be provided by: - the complainant’s evidence - medical examination, (DNA, injuries) - accused’s admissions.
Penetration
Introduction and penetration have the same meaning. Introduction to the slightest degree is enough to effect a connection. Section 2(1A), Crimes Act 1961
Facilitate flight
To make possible or to make easy or easier The specified harm is caused to enable the offender(s) to more easily effect their escape, or to prevent their capture after the commission or attempted commission of an imprisonable offence