The offence of Murder within the scope of english criminal law and with the proper and relevant case law.
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Key distinction between manslaughter and murder INTENTION OF D
ACTUS REUS OF MURDER
AG’S REF (Nº3 OF 1994) (1997) Malice cannot be transferred twice
VO V FRACE An unwanted abortion. Held that the embryo has no human rights until it is born
RE A (CONJOINED TWINS) (2001) Held that, if a body breathes, no matter how injured that body is, it
is a human being
AR Causing the death of another person
UNLAWFULLY
´Unlawfulness` absence of a valid defense
The consent of the victim does not provide a defense for murder.
CAUSING A DEATH
Shown that D caused V’s death.
THE MENS REA OF MURDER
MR of murder MALICE AFORETHOUGH
MR Intention to kill or cause GBH to V
CUNNINGHAM (1982) DEFINITION OF INTENTION TO KILL OR CAUSE GBH
D struck another man several blows on the head with a heavy chair in an unprovoked attack motivated by
sexual jealousy. V died as a result of a fracture in the skull. Charged with murder, D tried to deny an intention
to kill. Held that there was intention to cause GBH
The prosecution must show beyond reasonable doubt that D intended to kill or cause GBH
WHAT IS GBH?
SMITH V DPP (1961) An injury may amount to GBH even though it does not endanger a person’s life
AG’S REF (Nº3 OF 1994) (1997) RULE THAT GBH IS ENOUGH FOR MR OF MURDER
WHEN CONSIDERING INTENTION
1) Was there direct intent? (i.e., Did D aim to kill or cause GBH?)
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