Evolution of the Offence Flashcards
What is mens rea and what two concepts does it generally consist of?
The Guilty mind. Intention or recklessness.
What is intent?
An intention to commit a deliberate act or omission and the intention to get a specific result.
What are the two case laws covering recklessness?
Cameron v R and R v Tipple.
What is the case law covering intent?
R v Collister
Explain R v Collister
Circumstantial evidence may infer the offender’s intent.
The offenders’ actions or words, before, during or after the event.
The surrounding circumstances.
The nature of the act itself.
Explain Cameron v R
Recklessness is established if the defendant recognized there was a real possibility
His/her action would bring about the proscribed result, and
The proscribed circumstances existed, and
Their actions were unreasonable in regard to the risk.
Explain R v Tipple
The defendant must know or have a conscious appreciation of the risk and make a deliberate decision to run that risk.
What does proscribed mean?
Forbidden.
What is the difference between subjective recklessness and objective recklessness?
Subjective is in regard to what the defendant thinks at the time of the act. Objective is what a reasonable person would think in the circumstances.
What is wilful blindness?
Turning a blind eye to the circumstances.
What is actus reus?
The state of affairs, an act or omission.
Explain the chain of causation?
A connection between the acts of the defendant and the final consequence must exist. Must be an unbroken chain of events.
What are the five statutory defences provided for in the Crimes Act 1961?
Infancy
Defence of self or another
Defence of property
Insanity
Compulsion
What are 6 common law defences not written in legislation?
Intoxication
Sane Automatism
Mistake
Consent
Necessity
Impossibility
What is a conspiracy?
An agreement between two or more people to commit an offence.
In regard to conspiracy, what is an agreement?
Agreeing to follow a course of conduct (act/omission) that would amount to an offence if carried out. Agreeing turns mens rea into actus reus.
What are the three different case law in regard to conspiracy?
Mulcahy v R, R v White, R v Sanders.
Summarise Mulcahy v R
A conspiracy…..agreement of two or more to do an unlawful act……when two agree to carry the offence into effect, the very plot is an act in itself