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Criminal Law

LAW405

Course CodeLAW405
ECTS

Course Description

This unit aims to provide learners with knowledge on the fundamental requirements of actus reus and mens rea within any criminal conviction. The unit will also consider the common law and statutory governance of violent crimes and non-violent crimes. Learners will be informed on potential capacity and necessity defences to criminal conduct, and the reasoned applicability of these defences.

Course Objectives

This unit aims to provide learners with knowledge on the fundamental requirements of actus reus and mens rea within any criminal conviction. The unit will also consider the common law and statutory governance of violent crimes and non-violent crimes. Learners will be informed on potential capacity and necessity defences to criminal conduct, and the reasoned applicability of these defences.

Key Topics

  1. LO1: Understand the actus reus and mens rea requirements of criminal offences.
  2. LO2: Understand the classification of violent offences and non-violent offences.
  3. LO3: Understand defences to criminal conduct.

Course Outline

WeekTopics
1Criminal conduct as an act against the state
2Actus reus: voluntary and involuntary acts, omissions, factual and legal causation, novus actus interveniens
3Mens rea: intention, foresight of virtual certainty, transferred malice, recklessness and gross negligence
4Coincidence of actus reus and mens rea
5Murder and manslaughter: voluntary, involuntary, unlawful act and gross negligence manslaughter
6Assault and battery
7Non-violent offences: criminal damage, Theft Act 1968 (theft, robbery, blackmail), fraud and the Computer Misuse Act 1990
MidtermMidterm evaluation
9Self-defence at common law and under the Criminal Law Act 1967
10Insanity and diminished responsibility; intoxication, automatism and mistake
11Criminal liability of minors: Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and Crime and Disorder Act 1998
12Applying Criminal Law in practice: case studies
13Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
14Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
15Review and coursework completion
FinalFinal assessment and submission

Learning Outcomes

  1. LO1 Understand the actus reus and mens rea requirements of criminal offences.
  2. 1.1 Explain the nature of criminal conduct.
  3. 1.2 Define the requirement of actus reus.
  4. 1.3 Define the requirements of mens rea.
  5. 1.4 Assess the relationship between actus reus and mens rea.
  6. LO2 Understand the classification of violent offences and non-violent offences.
  7. 2.1 Explain common law offences against the person.
  8. 2.2 Describe fatal statutory offences against the person.
  9. 2.3 Explain offences of assault and battery.
  10. 2.4 Describe non-violent offences.
  11. LO3 Understand defences to criminal conduct.
  12. 3.1 Define self-defence.
  13. 3.2 Explain the insanity defence.
  14. 3.3 Describe the criminal liability of minors.
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