Sex Flashcards
With a case of sexual violation, what you must prove beyond reasonable doubt?
There was an intentional act by the defendant involving sexual connection with the complainant AND
the complainant did not consent AND
the defendant did not believe the complainant was consenting OR
If the defendant did believe the complainant was consenting the grounds for the belief were not reasonable
Is there a defense if the person you rape is your spouse (legally married)’?
No, unless the offending happened before 1986
Section 128B CA 1961?
The term of imprisonment is not exceeding 20 years and everyone who commits sexual violation must be sentenced to imprisonment unless the Court thinks that person should not be sentenced to imprisonment;
-the particular circumstances of the person convicted and
-the particular circumstances of the offence including nature of conduct
Section 128(1)(a)
A person
Rapes
Another person
Section 128(1)(b)
A person
Has unlawful sexual connection
With another person
Definition of sexual connection
Connection effected by the introduction into the genitalia or anus of one person, otherwise than for genuine medical purposes of;
-a part of the body of another person
-an object held or manipulated by another person
Connection between the mouth or tongue of one person and a part of another person’s genitalia or anus
The continuation of a kind of described connection in paragraph a and b
What is the difference between penetrate and introduce into?
There is no difference and it’s not necessary to differentiate between the two
Definition of penetration in the slightest degree?
Any penetration no matter how slight or fleeting is sufficient
How do you prove penetration?
-Complainants evidence
-Medical exam, including physical injuries and DNA evidence
-The defendants admissions
Definition of genitalia
Includes the penis and testicles of a male and vulva and vagina of a female
Also includes surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to naturally occuring male or female genitalia (whether the person concerned is male female or or indeterminate sex)
R v Koroheke
The genitalia comprises of reproduction organs, interior and exterior. They include the vulva and the labia both interior and exterior at the opening of the vagina
What was held in R V N?
The offence is sufficiently proved by penetration of the vulva by the penis, proof of penetration of the vagina is not required
Definition of penis
Includes surgically reconstructed or constructed organ analogous to a naturally occuring penis (whether the person is male, female or of undetermined sex)
Why is anal penetration not considered rape?
The anus is not defined as part of a person’s genitalia, the charge would be unlawful sexual connection
What are genuine medical purposes?
When a doctor is legitimately performing something such as cervical screening or a prostate exam this is not a violation.
If the doctor pretends it’s for a medical procedure but does it for sexual gratification this may amount to sexual violation
Define continuation?
Where sexual activity starts consensually but the consent is later withdrawn
What was held in R v Kaitamaki in relation to continuation
If after penetrating the victim the defendant realises the victim is not consenting but continues anyway that amounts to rape
What is section 127?
There is no of law that a person is incapable of sexual connection because of his or her age. It therefore is not a defence that the victim was too young or too old to have sexual connection
What is the subjective and objective test in relation to consent that the crown must prove?
Subjective: victim did not consent
Subjective: offender did not believe the complainant was consenting OR
objective: if the offender believed the victim was consenting, the grounds for the belief were not reasonable
R v Cox - consent
Consent must be full, voluntary and informed, freely and voluntarily given by a person in a position to form a rational judgement
R v cook - consent
To be effective consent must be real, genuine or true consent and that it is conveyed by words conduct or both
What is reluctant consent (R v Herbert)
The court held that true consent may be given hesitantly or reluctantly and may be regretted afterwards, provided it’s given without fear of the application of force of the result of actual or threatened force then the act of sexual connection would not be rape
What is it up to the crown to prove be for the subjective test in relation to absence of consent?
That the complainant was not consenting, it is not up to defence to prove that the victim was consenting
Who’s point of view is the subjective test of belief in consent?
The defendants, what were they thinking at the time? If the defendant believed the victim was consenting you need to applying the objective test to see if they had reasonable grounds for their belief
R v Gutuama
Under the objective test the Crown must prove that no reasonable person in the accused shoes could have thought the victim was consenting
What was held in R V Clarke
The defendant was one of three men who raped a 16 year old girl at a party. He took her lack of resistance as consent and said that the alcohol he had consumed affected his judgement
-the court rejected the argument ruling out the defendants personal characteristics as relevant factors in a purely objective test
Can the defendant be reckless as to the presence of consent
Recklessness as to whether the complainant is consenting or not is not consistent with having a reasonable belief in consent
What did the court discuss in R V Adams?
The material time when consent, and belief in consent is to be considered is at the time the act actually took place
The complainants behavior and attitude before or after the act itself may be relevant to that issue but is not decisive
Under section 128A, what are some situations where apparent consent is not valid?
Being asleep
Being unconscious
Submitting as a result of fear or force
Mistake of identity of the offender
Mental Incapacity
So affected by drugs or alcohol cannot consent
Consent due to mistaken nature or quality of act
Under section 128A, what does allows mean?
Acquiesces (accept something reluctantly without protest) submits to, participates in and undertakes sexual activity
What are the two rules in relation to lack of protest or resistance?
-lack of resistance or protest doesn’t mean there is consent, what is relevant is what is the complainants state of mind
-the fact the complainants lack of consent was not communicated may be relevant in the belief of the defendant of the victims consent
What are three types of violence that doesn’t amount to consent?
-Force applied to himself herself or some other person
-threats (whether express or implied) of the application of force to himself herself or some other person
-the fear of the application of force to him or her or some other person.
What is the degree of force necessary to negate consent?
Force that is intended or sufficient to cause bodily harm. A lesser degree of force would be accepted if it caused the victim to submit or not put up a fight
R v Koroheke - consent
It is important to distinguish between consent that is freely given and submission by a woman to what she may regard as unwanted but unavoidable. For example submission by a woman because she is frightened of what might happen if she does not give in or cooperate is not true consent
Does prior agreement to sex before asleep or unconscious count as consent?
No
What did the court hold in R v Isherwood?
Proof that the influence of liquor or drugs has had a disinhibiting effect on the mind of a complainant is not necessarily incompatible with consent. It’s all a question of degree.
In cases where a victim is asleep, unconscious or so affected by drugs or alcohol what do the crown have to prove?
In these cases it’s often that the victim has no recollection of the events and will not be in a position to say if they consented or not. If these subsections apply it is not essential that there be evidence the complainant did not consent
Where someone is physically or mentally impaired what should you consider?
-Whether the impairment was sufficiently severe as so to deprive the complainant of the capacity to withhold or give consent
-A charge of sexual exploitation of a person with significant impairment - section 138
Give an example of mistake as to Identity
Defendant gets into bed with a sleeping woman who had sexual intercourse with a man earlier in the night. Defendant initiates sex with women, she gives consent thinking it was the original male
Mistaken identity is the mistake made by the person submitting to the sexual connection, not a mistake by the defendant
Mistake to nature and quality of act
Agrees to foreplay but sex occurs still rape
Example of mistake as to nature of act medical stuff
R v Williams, choirmaster had sexual connection with 16 year old who believed it was to improve her singing voice. Guy was convicted of rape
Under section 128(consent) what does it cover?
Sexual connection and extends to sexual activity that without consent would be an indecent assault
Define rape
Person A rapes person B if person A has sexual connection with Person B effected by the penetration of person B’s genetalia by person As penis
-without B’s consent a d
-without believing on reasonable grounds that person B consents to the connection
What is the distinguishing factor between attempted sexual violation and assault with intent to commit sexual violation?
Attempt does not necessarily involve an assault
Assault with intent may not be sufficiently proximate to the full offence
R v Harpur - attempts
Attempts includes an act or omission constituting a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in his commission of the crime
-the court may have regard to the conduct viewed cumulatively up to the point the conduct stops the defendants conduct may be considered in it’s entirety. It’s always relevant to consider what still needs to be done although this won’t be determinative
Section 129 CA 1961
What are two situations where you might charge someone with assault with intent to commit sexual violation
Offender assaults the complainant because they are intent on having intercourse with the victim and obtaining their consent for it
As an alternative charge to an attempted sexual violation
In negating consent, what must the Crown prove?
The victim did not consent OR
The consent was not valid (impaired etc OR
The belief the victim was consenting was not reasonable
Section 132 (1)
Sexual conduct with a child under 12
A person
Has sexual connection
with a child under 12
Section 132(2)
Sexual conduct with a child
A person
Attempts to have sexual connection with a child under 12
Section 132(3)
Sexual conduct with a child
A person
Does an indecent act
With a child under 12
What are the Penalties for Sexual conduct with a child?
(1) 14 years
(2) 10 years
(3) 10 years
What are two things that aren’t defences to a charge under section 132?
The person charged believing the child was of or over 12 years of age
The child consented
R v cox - consent of a child
It is not excluded that a child of ten or eleven could give full, voluntary, free and Informed consent to sexual intercourse, the circumstances that would justify that conclusion would be exceptional if not rare