Homicide Flashcards
Define: Homicide (s)
s158 CA61
The killing of a human being by another, directly or indirectly, by any means whatsoever.
Can an organisation be a party to Manslaughter?
Yes
Can an organisation be a principal offender or party to Murder?
No. Because murder carries a mandatory life sentence.
Case: Murray Wright Ltd
Because the killing must be done by a human being, an organisation (such as a hospital or food company) cannot be convicted as a principal offender.
When does a child become a human being? (s)
s159(1)
When it has completely proceeded in a living state from the body of its mother, whether or not it has breathed, has an independent circulation or the naval string is severed.
When is the killing of a child homicide (and section?)
s159(2)
The killing of a child is homicide if it dies as a result of injuries received before, during or after birth.
When is homicide culpable? (s)
160(2)
Homicide is culpable when it consists of the killing of any person:
(a) by an unlawful act
(b) by an omission, without lawful excuse, to perform or observe any legal duty
(c) both
(d) by causing that person by threats or fear of violence, or by deception, to do an act which causes his death
(e) wilfully frightening a child under the age of 16 years or a sick person.
Define: Unlawful act
s2
means a breach of any Act, regulation, rule or bylaw
Case: Myatt
[for the purposes of culpable homicide] the unlawful act must be one likely to do harm to the deceased or to some class of person of whom he was one.
List the legal duties that are imposed by statute (6)?
- if have care or charge of vulnerable adult: provide the necessaries and protect from injury (s151)
- if parent/guardian of under 18: provide the necessaries and protect from injury (s152)
- if contracted provide food, clothing, shelter to apprentice under 16: provide necessaries as an employer (s153)
- use reasonable knowledge and skill when performing dangerous acts (s155)
- take precautions when in charge of dangerous things, such as machinery (s156)
- avoid omissions that will endanger life (s157)
Case: Tomars
Regarding s160(2)(d):
- Was the deceased threatened by, in fear of or deceived by the defendant?
- If so, did that cause them to do the act that caused their death?
- Was the act a natural consequence of the actions of the defendant and would a reasonable person in the defendant’s shoes foresee it?
- Did these foreseeable actions of the victim contribute in a [significant] way to his death?
Can a person consent to being killed? (s)
No. s63 Crimes Act 1961
Case: Horry
Where no body can be found a person can still be charged with murder so long as:
the circumstantial evidence is so compelling as to convince a jury that upon no rational hypothesis other than murder can the facts be accounted for.
List the two justifications for homicide?
- s48 - self-defence
- s41 - to prevent
- suicide or
- an offence likely to cause immediate and serious injury to any person or property
What must you prove to establish death? (3)
- death occurred
- deceased is identified as the person who has been killed
- the killing is culpable
When is culpable homicide murder (s)?
s167
culpable homicide is murder if:
(a) the offender means to cause the death of the person killed.
(b) If the offender means to cause to the person killed any bodily injury that they know is likely to cause death, AND is reckless whether death ensues or not.
(c) If the offender means to cause death, or,
- being so reckless as aforesaid, means to cause such bodily injury as aforesaid to one person,
- and by accident or mistake kills another person, though he does not mean to hurt the person killed.
(d) If the offender for any unlawful object does an act that he knows to be likely to cause death, and thereby kills any person, though he may have desired that his object should be effected without hurting any one.
Case: Harney
Recklessness means the conscious and deliberate taking of an unjustified risk.
What is required to prove recklessness under s167(b)?
Defendant:
- intended to cause bodily injury to the deceased
- knew the injury was likely to cause death
- was reckless as to whether death ensued or not
Case: Piri
The degree of risk of death foreseen by the defendant under s167(b) or (d) must be more than neglible or remote, they must recognise a real and substantial risk that death would be caused.
Case: Desmond
relates to s167(d):
Not only must the object be unlawful, but also the accused must know that his act is likely to cause death. It must be shown that his knowledge accompanied the act causing death.
Punishment of Murder (Crimes Act and Sentencing Act)
s172
(1) liable to life imprisonment
(2) ss1 subject to s102 of the Sentencing Act 2002
s102 Sentencing Act 2002
(1) Convicted of murder then must get life unless, given the circumstances of the offence and the offender, a sentence of imprisonment for life would be manifestly unjust.
(2) Court must give written reasons for not imposing a life sentence.
What is the section/penalty (they are the same) for attempted murder? (s)
s173
(1) If attempt to commit murder then liable 14 years.
Counselling or attempting to procure murder
s174
Liable 10 years who incites, counsels, or attempts to procure any person to murder any other person in NZ, when that murder is not in fact committed.
Case: Murphy
When proving an attempt to commit an offence it must be shown that the accused’s intention was to commit the substantive offence. For example, in a case of attempted murder it is necessary for the Crown to establish an actual intent to kill
Case: Harpur
The defendant’s conduct may be considered in its entirety. Considering how much remains to be done … is always relevant, though not determinative.
Conspiracy to murder
s175
Liable 10 years who conspires or agrees with any person to murder any other person, whether the murder is to take place in New Zealand or elsewhere.
Accessory after the fact to murder
s176
Liable 7 years who is an accessory after the fact to murder.
Case: Mane
To be considered an accessory the acts done by the person must be after the completion of the offence.
What is the difference between voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter?
Voluntary manslaughter
- mitigating circumstances.
- e.g. suicide pacts, reduce what would otherwise be murder to manslaughter, even though the defendant may have intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
Involuntary manslaughter
- killing caused by an unlawful act or gross negligence. Where no intention to kill.
List common circumstances for manslaughter?
- killing in a sudden fight
- manslaughter by an unlawful act
- manslaughter by negligence
- negligent drivers
What things should be considered for a killing in a sudden fight and why?
- self-defence
- the requisite mens rea for a murder charge
why?
- if self-defence is an option then acquittal is appropriate
- if the fight negates that the defendant had the required mens rea for murder then it is manslaughter
List the four-point Newbury and Jones outlines in manslaughter by an unlawful act.
- the defendant must intentionally do an act
- the act must be unlawful
- the act must be dangerous
- the act must cause death
What are three things to be aware of in manslaughter by negligence cases?
- consent of the person who died is no excuse e.g. agreeing to get shot
- if the death occurs during a lawful game or contest, e.g rugby, then it is non-culpable unless the defendant’s actions were likely to cause serious injury.
- even if the deceased contributed to their own death by negligence that does not offer a defence to a defendant. contributory negligence is no defence.
What is the ‘Major Departure’ test in s150A(2)?
- An Objective test
- Adomaki:having regard to the risk of death involved, the conduct of the defendant was so bad in all the circumstances as to amount to a criminal act or omission.
What is the punishment for manslaughter?
Life imprisonment but, circumstances dependent, the judge can may impose any penalty from a fine upwards.
List the four associated murder charges
- attempt to murder
- counselling or attempting to procure murder
- conspiracy to murder
- accessory after the fact to murder.
If an offender intends to kill A but inadvertently strikes the fatal blow to B, is the offender still guilty of murder?
Yes. s167(c).
In a charge of attempt to murder, what is the Crown required to prove?
- the mens rea and actus rea as set out in s72
- An intention to kill must be proved.
Define: Infanticide
s178:
- Where a woman causes the death of her child (< 10), AND
- at the time the balance of her mind was disturbed because she had not fully recovered from the effect of giving birth to that or any other child OR
- the effects of lactation OR
- by reason of any disorder consequent upon childbirth or lactation
- to such an extent that she should not be held fully responsible
=> THEN she is guilty of infanticide, not murder or manslaughter, and liable 3 years.
Who decides a mother’s state of mind in relation to infanticide?
The jury
Define: vulnerable adult
a person unable, by reason of:
- detention,
- age,
- sickness,
- mental impairment, or
- any other cause,
to withdraw himself from under the care or charge of another person
Is a ‘vulnerable adult’ a subjective or objective assessment?
Objective