Actus Reus

Question 1

Age of criminal responsibility

Answer 1

10

Question 2

commission

Answer 2

purposely breaking the law

Question 3

omission

Answer 3

accidentally breaking the law

Question 4

punishment

Answer 4

seen as deterrent

Question 5

actus reus

Answer 5

the guilty act

Question 6

mens rea

Answer 6

the guilty mind

Question 7

de minimus

Answer 7

insignificant matters

Question 8

novus actus interveniens

Answer 8

new intervening act

Question 9

obiter dictum

Answer 9

something said by a judge while giving judgement that was not essential to the decision of the case

Question 10

ratio decidendi

Answer 10

the principle or principles of law on which the court reaches its decision

Question 11

state decisis

Answer 11

to stand by things decided expressing the underlying basis of the doctrine present

Question 12

ultra vires

Answer 12

describing an act by a public authority, company or other body that goes beyond the limits of powers conferred on it.

Question 13

statutory duty

Answer 13

a duty that almost everyone by law has to do. Examples are helping someone when they are in their hour of need

Question 14

causation

Answer 14

this means that when a case goes to court it must be proven that the consequences have been directly caused by the actions to the defendant

Question 15

factual cause

Answer 15

the defendant can only be guilty if the consequences would not have happened “but for” the defendants conduct

Question 16

thin skull rule

Answer 16

the defendant must take the victim as they find them. this means that the victim may have a medical condition that any injuries that they sustain from a defendant could inflict more damage on them than someone who does not have the medical condition

Question 17

intervening act

Answer 17

something may break the chain of causation. in some cases, something else happened after the defendants act or omission and if it is sufficient enough to separate from defendants comedic it may break the chain of causation

Question 18

intention

Answer 18

this is defined as a decision to bring about in so far as it lies within accused power, the prohibited consequences, no matter whether the accused desired that consequence of their action

Question 19

motive

Answer 19

Mohan makes it clear that motive is not the same as intention and is not relevant when deciding whether a defendant has intention or not

Question 20

direct intent

Answer 20

in most cases a defendant will have what is called direct intent, in ehich they intend to do the specific consequences of their actions. if a defendant does not desire the outcomes of their actions, this is called oblique or indirect intent