Intentions (Specific Intent) Flashcards
What case defined intention?
Mohan 1975
What does the case of Mohan 1975 define intention as?
to bring about a prohibited consequence no matter whether the accused desired that consequence or not
What does the definition of intention under Mohan 1975 make clear?
that the defendants motive or reason for doing the act is not relevant
What section and Act illustrates that it does not matter if the defendant had motive for doing the act?
s.18 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1961
What does s.18 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1961 illustrate ?
that for this offence, the defendant must wound or cause grievous bodily harm. The Mens Rea is that the defendant must intend to cause GBH or intend to resist arrest. if the D intended neither then cannot be guilty of offence
Other than the definition of intention what else does Mohan 1975 make clear?
that motive is not the same as intention and is not relevant in deciding whether the defendant had intention.
What is an example when explaining that motive is not the same as intention and is not relevant in deciding whether the defendant had intention?
for example, a person might feel very strongly that the banking system is causing poverty in poorer nations. If they then stole millions from a bank to give to the poor then his motive is to make sure that the poor receive money. This is irrelevant in deciding whether the defendant had the Mens Rea for theft.
In the majority of cases what time of intent to defendants have?
they have direct intent
What does direct intent mean?
this means that he intends the specific consequence to occur
What is a quick example of explaining direct intent?
D aims gun at V, pulls the trigger, V dies. D has direct intent to kill V
What does oblique intent mean?
this is when the defendant intends one thing but the actual consequence which occurs is another thing
Quick example of oblique intent
D intends to frighten someone to stop them from going to work. Consequence the driver of the car was killed.
-Hancock and Shankland 1986
What is the main problem with proving intention?
in cases where the defendants main aim was not the prohibited consequence
When may D be guilty of even if their main aim was not the prohibited consequence?
if D foresaw that he would also cause those consequences
What is it known as when D can be guilty if they foresee the consequences of their actions?
‘foresight of consequences’
What is an example of ‘foresight of intentions”?
where the defendant decides to set fire to his shop in order to claim insurance. Although his main aim is to damage the shop and get insurance, unfortunately members of staff are in the shop and are seriously injured.
what section is the offence under for GBH?
s.18
What is the starting point for foresight of consequences ?
Criminal Justice Act 1967
What did s.8 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 do?
this statute reversed the position of the objective test on oblique intent to subjective
What terms does the Criminal Justice Act 1967 use for jury’s to determine whether a person has committed an offence?
If the actions of D has a ‘natural and probable consequence’ to the offence
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 what is the important point made?
that D must intent or foresee a result
For example, for in a murder case what must D do which will make him guilty of murder?
must intend or foresee death or serious injury
What is the leading case on the foresight of consequences?
Woollin 1998
What was the first case under the foresight of consequences?
DPP v Smith 1961
What happened in the case of Moloney 1985?
D and his father were seeing who was faster at loading and shooting a gun. D was faster and he shot V without aiming the gun. V died.
D convicted of murder. HOL substituted manslaughter
D and his father were seeing who was faster at loading and shooting a gun. D was faster and he shot V without aiming the gun. V died. D convicted of murder. Quashed on appeal
Which case is this?
Moloney 1985
What did the HOL rule in the case of Moloney 1985?
Foresight of consequence is only evidence of intention. Not intention itself. This is still law.
What did Lord Bridge say in the case of Moloney 1985 which has since been overruled by later cases also known as the Moloney guidelines?
1) was death or serious injury a natural consequence
2) Did D foresee that consequence as being a natural result of his acts?
What is a problem with the Moloney 1985 guidelines?
1) what death or serious injury a natural consequence
2) Did D foresee that consequence as being a natural result of his acts?
the word ‘probable’ is not mentioned
What part of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 did Lord Bridge did not include in the Moloney Guidelines 1985?
the word probable, only the word natural