Actus Reus in Criminal Law
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Questions and Answers

In order to prove that a defendant is guilty, the prosecution only needs to identify the actus reus of the offence.

False

The actus reus of an offence includes the defendant's state of mind.

False

Strict liability offences require a mens rea.

False

The Theft Act 1968 defines theft as appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of temporarily depriving the other of it.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The circumstance element of a criminal offence refers to the outcome or result of the defendant's conduct.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Possession can be considered a form of omission.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

In R v Stone and Dobinson, the defendants were charged with gross negligence manslaughter due to their failure to help the victim, who was the sister of the lodger.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

In R v Ruffel, the defendant was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter due to his failure to assume care for the victim who was overdosing.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

R v Miller is a case about the creation of danger through reckless behavior.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The defendant in R v Gemma Evans was charged with gross negligence manslaughter because she failed to help her sister who was overdosing.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The defendant was charged with gross negligence manslaughter in R v Stone and Dobinson because they were mentally impaired.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

In R v Ruffel, the defendant was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter because he left the victim outside after trying to revive him.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

All criminal cases require a positive act to fulfill the conduct element.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Omissions can never fulfill the actus reus conduct element.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to be liable, a defendant must always cause a specific result.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

There is a general duty to act in criminal law.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person can be liable for an omission if they have a familial relationship with the victim.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person can be liable for an omission if they have a contractual duty to act.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

A person can be liable for an omission if they have created a danger.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to be liable for an omission, a person must have a duty to act, and breach that duty.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The removal of life support is considered an act that can fulfill the actus reus conduct element.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

All crimes require a result element.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the requirement that the prosecution show that the defendant did the act and at the same time had the mens rea of the offence?

<p>Requirement of coincidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the element of an offence that refers to the factual context needed for liability?

<p>Circumstance</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of offences do not require a mens rea?

<p>Strict liability offences</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe a defendant's physical conduct or omissions needed for liability?

<p>Conduct</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common factor in the cases of R v Stone and Dobinson, and R v Ruffel?

<p>Both defendants failed to summon help for the victims</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a state of affairs that can be considered a form of conduct?

<p>Possession</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key element in the creation of danger cases, such as R v Miller?

<p>The defendant's reckless behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the physical act or omission that fulfills the actus reus of an offence?

<p>Conduct</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the necessary condition for a person to be liable for an omission?

<p>The person has a duty to act</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of the defendant's conduct in the circumstance element of a criminal offence?

<p>The outcome or result of the defendant's conduct</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between R v Stone and Dobinson, and R v Ruffel?

<p>The defendants' assumption of care</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the defendant's action in R v Gemma Evans?

<p>The defendant failed to summon medical help for the victim</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of criminal cases?

<p>A conduct element of some description is required</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between an act and an omission in criminal law?

<p>An act is a positive action, whereas an omission is a failure to fulfill a duty</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is required to establish the result element of a criminal offence?

<p>The defendant's conduct must have caused a specific result</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the surrounding facts that are not performed by the defendant and not caused by the defendant's action?

<p>Circumstance element</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle in the case of Airedale NHS Trust v Bland?

<p>The removal of life support is not an act that can fulfill the actus reus conduct element</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which situation can a person be liable for an omission?

<p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the outcome or event that the defendant must cause in order to be liable for a criminal offence?

<p>Result element</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which case was the defendant charged with misconduct in a public office for failing to intervene in an incident?

<p>R v Dytham</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key principle in criminal law regarding omissions?

<p>There is no general duty to act</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the requirement that the defendant's conduct must have caused a specific result, and that there must be a causal connection between the conduct and the result?

<p>Causation in fact and law</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Actus Reus

  • A guilty act (actus reus) and a guilty mind (mens rea) are the two essential elements of a crime
  • Internal structure of an offence: AR + MR + lack of defences = criminal offence
  • Strict liability offences do not require a mens rea

Breakdown of an Offence

  • Conduct: Defendants' physical conduct or omissions needed for liability
  • Circumstance: Factual context needed for liability
  • Result: Outcomes or things caused by the defendant needed for liability

Dimensions of a Criminal Offence

  • Conduct element: Acts, omissions, possession, or state of affairs
  • Circumstance element: External circumstances, such as victim not consenting or property belonging to another
  • Result element: Required outcomes or events caused by the defendant's conduct

Conduct Element

  • Acts: Physical conduct needed for liability
  • Omissions: Failing to act, with three ingredients: recognised offence capable by omission, a duty to act, and a breach of that duty
  • Possession: Acting to gain possession or not dispensing of an item, linked to state of affairs
  • State of affairs: Does not require positive action, e.g., professing to be a member of a terrorist organisation

Omissions

  • There is no general duty to act in criminal law, making omissions not criminal by default
  • Omissions can fulfill the actus reus conduct element in certain crimes
  • Criminalising omissions: Interests of autonomy generally outweigh the interest in criminalising omissions
  • To be held liable for an omission, three things are recognised:
    • Offence is capable by being committed by omission
    • Legally recognised duty to act
    • A breach of that duty

Omission Duty Situations

  • 5 situations where duty to act has been identified:
    1. Due to specifics of an offence (by definition)
    2. Under contract
    3. Familial or special relationship
    4. Assumption of care
    5. Creation of danger

Examples of Omission Duty Situations

  • Duty due to specifics of an offence: R v Dytham (police officer failed to intervene in an incident), s38B Terrorism Act 2000, and s170 Road Traffic Act 1988
  • Contractual duty: R v Pitwood (railway crossing gatekeeper failed to close gate)
  • Duty to familial or special relationship: R v Gibbons and Proctor (not feeding child), R v Hood (not summoning help after wife fell)
  • Assumption of care: R v Nicholls (grandmother neglected child), R v Instan (niece moved into defendant's home)

Case Law

  • Winzar v Chief Constable of Kent: Defendant was found drunk on the highway and was guilty of section 12 offence
  • Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: Removal of life support is permitted and does not amount to murder, as it is an omission
  • R v Miller: Defendant lit a cigarette and did not put out the fire he started, guilty of an offence
  • R v Gemma Evans: Defendant did not summon medical help after sister was overdosing, guilty of an offence

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Description

Understand the concept of Actus Reus, a crucial element of a crime, and how it combines with Mens Rea to establish guilt. Learn about the internal structure of an offence and how it applies to different types of crimes. Test your knowledge of criminal law!

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