Offences Against the Course of Justice

Question 1

Name the different types of crimes against the course of justice

Answer 1

1. False Reporting to Police / Wasting the Time of the Police / Misleading the Police / Giving False Info to the Crime Authorities
2. Perjury
3. (Attempting) to prevent the course of justice
4. Post conviction crimes
5. Contempt of Court

Question 2

What is perjury?

Answer 2

Lying on oath

Question 3

what’s the Actus reus and mens rea of perjury?

Answer 3

5. Mens rea: the false ev must be given wilfully- can’t commit negligently or…
   Subornation of Perjury:

Actus Reus: Get someone else to give perjured evidence
The witness must actually give perjured evidence and if they don’t, they can be attempted subornation of perjury.

Question 4

Whats the mens rea and Actus Reus of (attempting) to pervert the course of justice?

Answer 4

Actus reus: behaviour that gets in way of smooth progress of justice (Watson v HMA 1993)
• Mens rea: evil intention (HMA v Mannion 1961)