LSE: Criminal Law Paper

Adrian, a qualified electrician, is asked by his elderly neighbour Beatrice to rewire her kitchen. Adrian begins the work but, halfway through, decides he cannot be bothered to finish and abandons the project, leaving exposed live wires. Beatrice, unaware of the danger, touches one of the wires and suffers a serious electric shock, sustaining permanent neurological damage. Adrian had previously told Beatrice he would 'see the job through no matter what.' Separately, Beatrice's daughter Clara, who arrives on the scene and witnesses her mother convulsing on the floor, suffers a recognised psychiatric illness as a result. Advise Adrian as to his criminal liability for offences against the person in respect of both Beatrice and Clara.

Donna and Evan have been in a turbulent relationship for two years. One evening, Evan discovers text messages suggesting Donna has been unfaithful. In a rage, Evan strikes Donna repeatedly with a glass vase, causing a severe laceration to her skull and significant blood loss. Donna is taken to hospital where she requires emergency surgery. During surgery, the operating surgeon, Dr Forrest, makes an error that severs a major artery. Donna dies on the operating table. Evan is charged with murder. Evan argues: (i) he lost control upon seeing the messages; and (ii) Dr Forrest's negligence broke the chain of causation. Separately, consider whether Evan might alternatively be convicted of manslaughter. Advise fully.

George, a university student, attends a party where he consumes a large quantity of alcohol voluntarily. In a state of extreme intoxication, George genuinely believes he is being attacked by a zombie and punches Henry, a fellow guest, breaking his jaw. Henry had done nothing threatening. George also takes an expensive camera from the party host's bedroom, genuinely believing in his drunken state that it is his own camera. The following morning, George has no memory of either incident. Advise George as to his criminal liability for the assault on Henry and the taking of the camera, paying careful attention to the relevance of voluntary intoxication to each charge.

Critically evaluate the extent to which the current law of secondary liability in England and Wales strikes an appropriate balance between holding accessories sufficiently accountable and avoiding excessive criminalisation of peripheral participants. In your answer, consider the impact of R v Jogee [2016] UKSC 8 and assess whether the Supreme Court's reformulation of the law was correct in principle and workable in practice.

To what extent does the defence of consent in English criminal law adequately reflect individual autonomy, and how satisfactorily has the judiciary balanced the competing interests of personal freedom and public policy in cases of non-fatal offences against the person? In your answer, critically evaluate R v Brown [1994] 1 AC 212 and subsequent developments.