Sexual Offences Flashcards
SEXUAL VIOLATION
What must be proved?
** beyond reasonable doubt that:**
• There was an intentional act by the offender involving sexual connection with the complainant, and
• The complainant did not consent to the sexual act, and
• The offender did not believe the complainant was consenting, or
• If he did believe she was consenting, the grounds for such a belief were not reasonable
Sexual violation
Write out the full section 128
Identify the part that are used in the two liabilities
Section 128, Crimes Act 1961
Sexual violation defined
(1) Sexual violation is the act of a person who—
(a) rapes another person; or
(b) has unlawful sexual connection with another person.
(2) 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 to the connection; and
(b) without believing on reasonable grounds that person B consents to the connection.
(3) Person A has unlawful sexual connection with person B if person A has sexual connection with person B—
(a) without person B’s consent to the connection; and
(b) without believing on reasonable grounds that person B consents to the connection.
Sexual violation
What do the following sections lay out in CA61?
Section 128(1)
Section 128(2)
Section 128(3)
Section 128(1) Sexual violation = rape OR U/L sexual
connection
Section 128(2) Rape = sexual connection - consent
Section 128(3) U/L sexual connection = sexual connection - consent
Sexual Violation
What are the penalties for:
Rape
Unlawful Sexual connection
Rape : 20 Years
Unlawful Sexual connection: 20 Years
Sexual Connection
Define sexual connection as is required in liabilities
Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Interpretation
Sexual connection means—
(a) connection effected by the introduction into the genitalia or anus of one person, otherwise than for genuine medical purposes, of—
(i) a part of the body of another person; or
** (ii)** an object held or manipulated by another person; or
(b) connection between the mouth or tongue of one person and a part of another person’s genitalia or anus; or
(c) the continuation of connection of a kind described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
Sexual connection
Define: Introduction into / penetration
(use Section 2)
Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Interpretation
Introduction to the slightest degree is enough to effect a connection.
Proving penetration
Complete the below
‘Proof of penetration may be established by:’
Proof of penetration may be established by:
• The complainant’s evidence
• Medical examination, including physical injuries and DNA evidence
• The defendant’s admissions
Genitalia
Define as per Section 2
Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Interpretation
Genitalia includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to naturally occurring male or female genitalia (whether the person concerned is male, female, or of indeterminate sex)
Genitalia
What is the case law relating to genitalia which complements Section 2?
_R v Koroheke _
The genitalia comprise the reproduction organs, interior and exterior … they include the vulva [and] the labia, both interior and exterior, at the opening of the vagina.
Penis
Define as per Section 2
Section 2, Crimes Act 1961
Interpretation
Penis includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to a naturally occurring penis (whether the person concerned is male, female, or of indeterminate sex)
Anus
Is ass-rape actual rape?
Whats the appropriate charge?
The anus is not included within the definition of genitalia, and therefore non-consensual penile penetration of the anus is not rape.
The appropriate charge would be one of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection under section 128(1)(b).
Objects held / manipulated
Whats the key point differentiating an object from a penis?
Anything other than part of the body
No presumption because of age
What can the Crown not assume due to age?
Refer Section 127
Section 127 Crimes Act 1961
No presumption because of age
There is no presumption of law that a person is incapable of sexual connection because of his or her age.
What makes sexual connection unlawful?
What are the three tests to test if a
sexual connection is unlawful?
The Crown must prove that:
- The complainant did not consent to the sexual act (a subjective test), and
- The offender did not believe the complainant was consenting (a subjective test), or
- If he did believe she was consenting, the grounds for such a belief were not reasonable (an objective test)
Consent
Define Consent
Refer to Case Law
“Consent” is a person’s conscious and voluntary agreement to something desired or proposed by another.
_R v Cox _
Consent must be “full, voluntary, free and informed … freely and voluntarily given by a person in a position to form a rational judgment.”
Reasonable grounds (for consent)
What is Subjective test 1
What is Subjective test 2
What is Objective test 3
(Refer to case law for 3)
Subjective test 1
What was the complainant thinking at the time?
Subjective test 2
Whether or not the defendant believed she was consenting at the time.
Objective test 3
What would a reasonable person have believed if placed in the same position as the defendant?
R v Gutuama
Under the objective test the Crown must prove that “no reasonable person in the accused’s shoes could have thought that [the complainant] was consenting.”