Element Memorization Flashcards
Actus reus?
voluntary act or omission that causes social harm
omissions create duty when…
statute imposes; status relationship; assumed contractual duty to another; voluntarily assumed the care of another and so secluded the helpless person; create risk of harm to another (can be any one of them)
Mens rea?
wrongful state of mind
almost always prove mens rea by what
circumstantial evidence
Criminal Battery
intentionally or knowingly without legal justification and by any means… causes bodily harm to an individual, or makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual
aggravated battery
intentionally or knowingly causing great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement
No mens rea? (still need actus and causation)
strict liability
mistake of fact is a defense….
to a specific intent crime regardless of whether the mistake was unreasonable
Larceny
trespassory taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to steal and permanently deprive the rightful owner of their property
actual cause
but for test
proximate cause
determines who or what events among those that satisfy the but for standard should be held accountable for the resulting harm – be wary of possible intervening causes
intervening causes
if not reasonably foreseeable then superseding and break chain of liability
Homicide
unintentional and intentional (3) each
Mens rea IM1
premeditation and deliberation
mens rea IM2
intent (spontaneous)
mens rea Int manslaughter
heat of passion in response to adequate provocation (see rules of provocation)
“mens rea” UM1
felony murder 1
mens rea UM2
abandoned and malignant heart; conscious disregard; recklessness; depraved indifference
mens rea Unint manslaughter
negligence (lowest)
how many circumstances for determining premeditation and deliberation?
7
how many rules of provocation
4
what happens if rules of provocation satisfied?
murder mitigated to manslaughter
words alone adequate provocation?
NO — unless provoking party has the intent or ability to cause injury
Rules of provocation
There must have been adequate provocation … [must be calculated to inflame the passion of a reasonable man and cause him to act from passion rather than reason in the moment];
The killing must have been done in the heat of the passion;
Heat of passion must be sudden – the killing must have followed the provocation before there had been a reasonable opportunity for the passion to cool;
There must have been a causal connection between the provocation, the passion, and the fatal act
UM2 mens rea sub elements (1/2)
objective – very high degree of danger that society recognizes
UM2 mens rea sub elements (2/2)
subjective – consciously disregarding the danger that they are posing and engage in the conduct anyway while being aware of the danger
FM1 enumerated felonies
burglary and robbery
Burglary
entering a house; locked vehicle, with the intent to steal or commit a crime
Robbery
trespassory taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to steal and permanently deprive the rightful owner of their property with the use or threat of force
Unenumerated felony analysis for FM2 (one kind of UM2)
felony inherently dangerous?
if inherently dangerous, have its own felonious purpose?
– if both yes, most likely FM2