Liability 128(1)(a) Flashcards
Sexual Violation by Rape
Section and Penalty
Section 128(1)(a) Crimes Act 1961
20 Years Imprisonment
Sexual Violation by Rape
Ingredients
.1 A person
.2 Rapes
.3 Another person
.1 A person
Gender neutral. Proven by judicial notice or circumstantial evidence.
.2 Rapes
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,
AND
(b) without believing on reasonable grounds that Person B consents to the connection.
Sec. 128(2), Crimes Act 1961
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Penetration:
Introduction and penetration have the same meaning. Introduction to the slightest degree is enough to effect a connection.
Sec 2(1A), Crimes Act 1961
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Proof of penetration:
- the complainant’s evidence
- medical examination (DNA & Injuries)
- accused’s admissions
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Genitalia comprises the interior and exterior of reproduction organs, vulva, labia and vagina (including opening)
R v Koroheke
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Genitalia:
Genitalia includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to naturally occurring male or female genitalia. Whether person is male, female, indeterminate sex.
Sec. 2, Crimes Act 1961
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Penis:
Penis includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to a naturally occurring penis. Whether person is male, female, indeterminate sex.
Sec.2, Crimes Act 1961
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Consent:
“Consent” is a person conscious and voluntary agreement to something desired or proposed by another.
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Consent must be “full, voluntary, free and informed… freely and voluntarily given by a person in a position to form a rational judgement”.
R v Cox
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Matters that do not constitute consent:
- Not protesting or offering physical resistance
- 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 ID
- mistaken as to nature and quality of the act.
Sec. 128A, Crimes Act 1961
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Reasonable Grounds - 3 Step Process:
Test 1 - Absence of Consent - Subjective Test
What was the complainant thinking at the time? Was s/he consenting?
Test 2 - Belief in Consent - Subjective Test
If s/he were not consenting did the offender believe the complainant was consenting? i.e. what was the offender thinking at the time?
Test 3 - Reasonable grounds for belief in Consent - Objective Test
If the offender believed the complainant was consenting, was that belief reasonable in the circumstances? Ie what would a reasonable person have believed if placed in the same position as the defendant?
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Under the objective test the Crown must prove that “no reasonable person in the accused’s shoes could have thought the complainant was consenting”
R v Gutuama
.3 Another Person
Gender neutral. Proven by judicial notice or circumstantial evidence.