Association Flashcards
(174 cards)
Conspiracy section 310(1)
Conspires
With any person
To commit any offence OR
To do or omit, in any part of the world
Anything of which the doing or omission in NZ would be an offence
Defines conspires
Two or more people forming an agreement to do an unlawful act or a lawful act by unlawful means
R v Mulcahy
A conspiracy consists not merely in the intention of two or more, but in the agreement of two or more to do an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. So long as such a design rests in intention only it is not indictable. When two agree to carry it (intended offence) into effect, the very plot is an act in itself
Can a conspiracy involve an omission?
Yes. It can be an agreement between the parties not to act. For example a security guard deliberately leaving a door unlocked that he would normally secure so that his associates could burgle the place
Can you withdraw from an agreement?
No. Once the agreement is made with the required intent the conspiracy is complete. If you don’t agree to it in the first place and withdraw that’s algood
When is a conspiracy complete?
Once the agreement is made with the require intent
R v Sanders (when a conspiracy ends)
A conspiracy does not end with the making of the agreement. The conspiratorial agreement continues in operation and therefore in existence until it is ended by completion of it’s performance or abandonment or in any other manner by which agreements are discharged
What is the mens Rea and Actus Reus for an agreement?
Actus Reus: Actual agreement
Men’s Rea: an intention of those involved to agree and an intention that those involved in the agreement are going to pursue the relevant course of conduct
What are some things that can help prove the Actus Reus of an agreement?
Physical acts, words or gestures, whether express or implied
A verbal agreement, there is no need for them to have made a decision on how they will actually commit the offence
R v Collister
Intent can be inferred by:
-the offenders actions and words before during and after the event
-the nature of the act
-the surrounding circumstances
R v White
Where you can prove that a suspect conspired with other parties (one or more people) whose identities are unknown, that suspect can still be convicted even if the identity of the other parties is never established and remains unknown
Section 67 of the crimes act
A person is capable of conspiring with her or her spouse or civil union partner or wis his or her spouse or civil union partner and any other person
What is the difference between offence and crime?
Nothing. They’re basically the same and are described as any act or omission that is punishable on conviction under any enactment, and are demarcated into four categories described in section 6
Define omission
The action of excluding or leaving our someone or something, a failure to fulfil a moral or legal obligation
R v sanders (jurisdiction)
It was deemed sufficient if one act or omission forming part of the offence or any event necessary to the completion of any offence occurs in NZ
Jurisdiction in relation to conspiracy
It is an offence not only to conspire to commit an offence in NZ, but also to conspire to do or omit in any part of the world, if doing that thing or omitting would be an offence in NZ.
What is a defence to the charge of conspiracy under section 310?
If a person conspires to commit an act overseas that is an offence in NZ but it is not an offence in the other country they cannot be prosecuted.
R v Darwish
If the conspiracy is made between two parties, one in NZ and one elsewhere the courts will likely take the view that the conspiracy was formed in both countries simultaneously
What are the two points in relation to admissibility of evidence for a conspiracy
- Anything a conspirator or joint party to a joint charge says or does to further the common purpose is admissable against the other involved, this being an exception to the hearsay rule and as such conspirators should be jointly charged.
- however explanations made after the common purpose is carried out, this can only be used as evidence against the person making it
When interviewing witnesses for conspiracy what should their statements contain
Identity of people present at the time of the agreement
With who the agreement was made
What offence was planned
Any acts carried out to further the common purpose
What should you ask a suspect in relation to a conspiracy
Intent of those involved in n the agreement
Identity of the all people
Whether anything was written, said or done to further the common purpose
The existence of an agreement to commit an offence OR
the existence of an agreement to omit to do something that would amount to an offence
What are the three elements of an attempted offence
Intent (mens Rea) to commit an offence
Act (Actus reus) that they did, or omitted to do, something to achieve that end
Proximity, that their act or omission was sufficiently close
It also must be legally possible to commit the offence in the circumstances. A person. Can be convicted if the offence was physically impossible to commit
When can you not charge someone with an attempt?
-Where the offence invoves negligence or recklessness (manslaughter)
-an attempt is included in the definition (assault)
-the offence is such that the act has to have been completed for the offence to exist at all, demands with menace
What are two examples of offences where an attempt isn’t relevant?
Manslaughter and assault with intent to commit sexual violation