Download Strict Liability - Criminal Law - Past Exam and more Exams Criminal Law in PDF only on Docsity! PRIFYSGOL ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTARY DEGREE EXAMINATIONS 2010 DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY CRIMINAL LAW (LA35930) Time allowed TWO hours Answer TWO questions Candidates may take into the examination an unmarked copy of Blackstone’s Criminal Law Statutes (any edition). Unmarked material which is permitted to be taken into the examination must remain unmarked for the duration of the examination. Highlighting and underlining are permitted. Blank post-it notes can be used to mark pages. You should be aware that the relevance of your answer to the SPECIFIC question asked is something to which the examiners will attach particular importance. Therefore, no marks will be awarded for irrelevant material, or for answers that consist largely of materials available to you during the exam. 1. Explain and critically discuss, in relation to the so-called general principles of criminal law, the purpose and application of the concepts of actus reus and mens rea. Illustrate and support your answer with examples from statute and case law. 2. Using examples from case law, explain and critically discuss the role and application of strict liability offences. 3. Whilst referring to relevant cases and/or tests, consider the following question in relation to both scenarios below – Did D do an act with intent to commit an offence which was “more than merely preparatory to the commission of the offence”? (a) D attempted to murder V. First he bought a stick, sharpened the stick to form a spear and practiced throwing the spear. D then drove his car near V’s house, parked it and approached V’s garden whilst V was mowing her lawn. D carried the spear which he planned to throw at V. D was walking down the path towards V’s garden when one yard from V’s garden, the police, who had been tipped off, grabbed D and arrested him. (b) D attempted to burgle a house. Around 8pm, he was disturbed examining the house door lock, but ran off when he realised he was being watched. His bike was parked in a lay- by nearby and hidden in a hedge between the bike and the house was an oxy-acetylene cutting set. 4. How does Hinks [2001] 2 AC 241 affect the balance between the mens rea and actus reus of theft? Please turn over….
