Contents Page Criminal Law 1. Fundamentals of Criminal Law ...
Contents Page Criminal Law 1. Fundamentals of Criminal Law…..…………1 a) Definition of crime…………………………..1 b) Purposes of criminal law………………….1 c) Criminal capacity……………………………..2 d) Classifications of crimes…………………..3 e) Elements of an offence……………………4 f) Mens rea…………………………………………4 g) Actus reus………………………………………..4 h) Temporal coincidence……………………..4 i) Defences………………………………………….4 j) Strict liability……………………………………5 k) Transferred malice…………………………..6 l) Burdens of proof……………………………..6 2. Homicide and Actus Reus……………………..6 a) Unlawful homicide- murder…...……….6 b) Meaning of life and death……………….7 c) Actus reus………………………………………..7 d) Voluntariness…………………………………..7 e) Causation…………………………………………7 3. Murder and Mens Rea………………………….8 a) Mens rea…………………………………………8 b) Intention to kill………………………………..9 c) Intention to cause GBH……………………9 d) Recklessness as to causing death or grievous bodily harm……………………….9 e) Constructive murder……………………..10 f) Temporal coincidence……………………11 4. Murder: The Doctrines of Provocation and Self- Defence……………………………….11 a) Provocation……………………………………11 b) Self-defence…………………………………..13 5. Involuntary Manslaughter………………….14 a) By unlawful and dangerous act……..14 b) By criminal negligence……………………15 6. Law of Assault…………………………………….15 a) Elements……………………………………….16 b) Mens rea of common assault…………16 c) Actus reas of common assault……….16 d) Temporal coincidence……………………17 e) Aggravated assault…………………………17 f) Consent…………………………………………18 g) Self-defence…………………………………..20 h) Other offences against the person…20 7. Sexual Assault…………………………………….20 a) Elements of rape……………………………20 b) Consent…………………………………………20 c) Mens rea……………………………………….21 d) Indecent assault…………………………….21 8. Theft and Larceny……………………………….22 a) Elements of theft…………………………..22 b) Actus reus elements………………………22
c) Mens rea elements………………………..26 9. Deception and Fraud Offences……………27 a) Obtaining property be deception…..27 b) Actus reus elements………………..…….28 c) Mens rea elements………………………..28 d) Obtaining financial advantage by deception………………………………………29 10. Burglary, Robbery and Extortion…………29 a) Burglary…………………………………………29 b) Robbery…………………………………………32 11. Attempt, Incitement and Conspiracy….32 a) Attempt…………………………………………33 b) Incitement……………………………………..25 c) Conspiracy…………………………………….35 12. Defences of Compulsion: Duress and Necessity……………………………………………36 a) Duress……………………………………………36 b) Battered women’s syndrome…………38 c) Necessity……………………………………….38 d) Other considerations……………………..38 13. Mental State Defences: Intoxication, Insanity, and Diminished Responsibility…………………………………….39 a) Intoxication……………………………………39 b) Mental Impairment……………………….39 14. Cases………………………………………………….41
c) Mens rea elements………………………..26 9. Deception and Fraud Offences……………27 a) Obtaining property be deception…..27 b) Actus reus elements………………..…….28 c) Mens rea elements………………………..28 d) Obtaining financial advantage by deception………………………………………29 10. Burglary, Robbery and Extortion…………29 a) Burglary…………………………………………29 b) Robbery…………………………………………32 11. Attempt, Incitement and Conspiracy….32 a) Attempt…………………………………………33 b) Incitement……………………………………..25 c) Conspiracy…………………………………….35 12. Defences of Compulsion: Duress and Necessity……………………………………………36 a) Duress……………………………………………36 b) Battered women’s syndrome…………38 c) Necessity……………………………………….38 d) Other considerations……………………..38 13. Mental State Defences: Intoxication, Insanity, and Diminished Responsibility…………………………………….39 a) Intoxication……………………………………39 b) Mental Impairment……………………….39 14. Cases………………………………………………….41
