• Shuffle
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Alphabetize
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Front First
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Both Sides
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
  • Read
    Toggle On
    Toggle Off
Reading...
Front

Card Range To Study

through

image

Play button

image

Play button

image

Progress

1/32

Click to flip

Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;

Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;

H to show hint;

A reads text to speech;

32 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
What are the three main arguments than an accused may use is a defence? (3)
1. Deny committing the act; disputing the actus reus.
2. Argue they lacked the intent; disputing the mens rea.
3. Attempt to justify why they committed the act.
What must the Crown prove in a criminal case? (1)
1. Must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused had the actus reus and mens rea to commit a crime.
What is the actus reus? (2)
1. The guilty action.
2. The physical act involved in committing an offence.
What is the means rea? (2)
1. The guilty mind.
2. The accused had intent to commit and offence and knowledge that what they did was against the law.
What is the alibi defence? (1)
1. Arguing that the accused was not at the scene of the crime when it took place and therefore could not have committed it.
What are the three components to a complete alibi defence? (3)
1. A statement by the accused claiming they were not present at the scene of the crime when the crime was committed.
2. An explanation of where they were.
3. Names of any witnesses who can confirm the alibi.
What are the strengths of an alibi? (2)
1. In order for a strong alibi, all three components must exist.
2. If a reliable alibi can be presented, this is the strongest defence an accused person can use.
What are the weaknesses of an alibi? (2)
1. If one or more of the components are missing, it becomes easier to raise doubts about the alibi's credibility.
2. Alibis are weak when there are no witnesses to verify the claims made by the accused.
What is the automatism defence? (2)
1. An involuntary action by a person who cannot control their actions and who is in a state of impaired consciousness.
2. Automatism can be insane and non insane.
What can influence automatistic behaviour? (1)
1. Sleepwalking, consumption of drugs and alcohol, a disease of the mind.
What is insane automatism? (1)
1. A person suffering from a mental disorder and as a result was incapable of knowing that what they were doing was wrong.
What does the fitness hearing ask in a not criminally responsible defence? (3)
1. Does the accused understand the nature of the proceedings, and does the accused know that they are on trial?
2. Does the accused understand the possible consequences of a trial?
3. Is the accused able to communicate with their lawyers and other court workers?
What is non insane automatism? (2)
1. Referred to as temporary insanity.
2. The accused committed a crime while in a temporary state of impaired consciousness.
What must happen for a not criminally responsible defence to be brought up and tried? (3)
1. The defence may be raised by the crown or defence, but whoever raises it must prove it in court.
2. The accused must be deemed as fit to stand trial.
3. A fitness hearing must occur.
What is the intoxication defence? (2)
1. The accused demonstrates that they did not have a guilty mind at the time of crime because they were intoxicated.
2. Generally an intoxicated person cannot form a specific intent but may be found guilty of a general intent offence and if successful, this defence can lower a conviction or reduce a criminal sentence.
What is the self defence defence? (1)
1. The legal use of reasonable force in order to defend yourself and your property.
What is battered woman syndrome?
1. A psychological condition caused by severe and usually prolonged domestic violence.
What is the main difference between a self defence case and a battered woman syndrome case? (1)
1. In a self defence case the danger is immediate; in a battered woman syndrome case the danger may not be immediate but instead is constant.
What is the necessity defence? (2)
1. An accused persons claim that they were forced to commit a criminal act because they were in danger.
2. This defence may only be used in situations where there appears to be imminent risk.
What is the duress defence? (1)
1. When someone is coerced to do something against their will.
What is the main difference between the necessity defence and the duress defence? (1)
1. The main difference is that with a necessity defence, the accused was forced to because they were in imminent danger; whereas with a duress defence the accused is forced to act as a result of a threat.
What is the mistake of fact defence? (3)
1. This defence shows a lack of mens rea, lack of a guilty mind.
2. Ignorance of the law, or not knowing a particular offence was illegal, is not a valid defence.
3. Ignorance of the facts, not understanding all of the details of a situation, can be used as a defence.
What is the provocation defence? (1)
1. A person is provoked to lose their self control and as a result commits a crime.
What is an example of a provocation defence? (1)
1. A is at the bar with his wife when another man B insults her. A then assaults B in a rage.
What is an example of a mistake of fact defence? (1)
1. A receives counterfeit money as change. A attempts to use it somewhere else and gets caught. A knows counterfeit money is illegal, but truly did not know that they possessed fake money.
What is an example of a duress defence? (1)
1. A shoots someone and tells B that he must help him dump the body. When B refuses, A points his gun at him.
What is an example of insane automatism? (1)
1. A has paranoid schizophrenia and murders someone they wrongly believed was a threat.
What is an example of non insane automatism? (1)
1. While sleepwalking, A murders his wife B. After waking up he has no recollection of doing so, A was not aware of what he was doing when he murdered B.
What is an example of an intoxication defence? (1)
1. A severely assaults B, but A did not endanger B's life knowingly with specific intent. A may still be convicted of general intent.
What is an example of a self defence defence? (1)
1. A is being attacked with a knife by B, so A uses a knife on B.
What is an example of battered woman syndrome defence?
1. A is in an abusive relationship with B. One night A shoots B in the back of the head after he earlier threatened to kill her.
What is an example of a necessity defence? (1)
1. A speeds to get his wife B to a hospital. A is pulled over by a police officer for driving. A can argue that he is speeding out of necessity.