Case establishing that actus reus can be satisfied by an omission where there is a legal duty to act. The defendant's failure to fulfil a statutory duty constituted the physical element of the offence.

Defined the mens rea requirement for s.20 grievous bodily harm, establishing that the defendant need only intend or foresee some harm, not necessarily serious harm. The case clarified the distinction between s.18 and s.20 offences.

Court establishes classic definition of consideration requiring benefit or detriment

This Supreme Court case established a new test for dishonesty in criminal law, overruling the subjective element of the Ghosh test. The case arose from a professional gambler's civil claim against a casino after being accused of cheating at baccarat through edge-sorting.

R v Ghosh established the test for dishonesty in criminal law, requiring both objective and subjective elements. The case created a two-stage test that was fundamental to determining dishonesty in fraud and theft cases until the Supreme Court replaced its subjective second limb with a wholly objective test in Ivey v Genting Casinos [2017] UKSC 67.

Family arrangements presumed to lack contractual intention despite presence of consideration.

Contract formed through conduct despite absence of formal acceptance

A key case establishing the limitations of transferred malice where the type of harm differs from that intended. The defendant threw a stone intending to hit people but broke a window instead.

Commercial agreements presumed to create legal relations despite 'ex gratia' descriptions.

This case established the fundamental test for the insanity defence in English criminal law. The defendant shot the Prime Minister's secretary believing he was being persecuted by the government.

Two shipwrecked sailors killed and ate their teenage cabin boy to survive at sea, then were charged with murder upon rescue. The court rejected the defence of necessity, establishing that necessity cannot justify taking an innocent life.

A Victorian case where a man deceived a woman into having sexual intercourse by pretending it was a medical procedure. The court held that deception as to the nature of the act vitiates consent.

Court establishes objective test for contractual agreement over subjective intentions

A person intends the natural and probable consequences of their acts.

R v Pittwood established that a person can be criminally liable for omissions where they have undertaken a duty of care. A railway gatekeeper who failed to close level crossing gates, resulting in a fatal collision, was convicted of manslaughter despite not having actively caused the death.

R v Latimer established the doctrine of transferred malice in criminal law, where a defendant's intention to harm one person can be transferred to make them liable for actually harming another person. This case is fundamental to understanding how criminal intent operates when the actual victim differs from the intended victim.

House of Lords clarifies test for intention in murder cases

R v White established that causation in criminal law requires the defendant's act to be a factual cause of the prohibited result. White attempted to poison his mother but she died of a heart attack before the poison could take effect, breaking the chain of causation and resulting in conviction only for attempt.

Silence cannot constitute acceptance of contractual offer

R v Gibbins and Proctor established that a person can be criminally liable for murder by omission where they have a duty to act but fail to do so. The case involved a father and his partner who failed to feed the father's child, resulting in the child's death from starvation.

Advertisement promising £100 reward constitutes binding contractual offer

The House of Lords established the fundamental principles governing intoxication as a defence in criminal law, distinguishing between crimes of specific and basic intent and setting rules for when intoxication can negate mens rea.

A foundational case establishing the test for gross negligence manslaughter, requiring negligence so gross that it amounts to a crime and merits criminal punishment rather than mere civil liability.

Contract formation via telex occurs when acceptance received, not sent

Woolmington v DPP established the fundamental principle that the prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt in criminal cases. The case overturned the previous rule that required defendants to prove their innocence when claiming self-defence in murder cases.

Court of Appeal establishes 'virtual certainty' test for criminal intention

Steane, a British actor, made propaganda broadcasts for Germany during WWII to protect his family from a concentration camp. The Court of Appeal held that for the offence of doing acts likely to assist the enemy with intent to assist the enemy, the prosecution must prove the accused intended to assist the enemy, not merely that he intended to do the acts.

Separated spouses' agreements presumed legally binding unlike harmonious domestic arrangements

The Court of Appeal held that intoxication by non-dangerous drugs like Valium may provide a defence to crimes of basic intent if the intoxication was not reckless, distinguishing therapeutic drugs from alcohol and dangerous drugs.

Foresight of highly probable serious harm can constitute mens rea for murder.

Court of Appeal established that a person can be convicted of criminal damage to their own property if it is subject to a charge or lien giving another person rights in it.

Specific intent requires decision to bring about the prohibited consequence as means or end.

Courts won't assess adequacy of consideration, only legal sufficiency required

Legal duty plus additional benefit can constitute valid consideration for contract formation.

Court establishes postal rule: acceptance effective when letter posted

Acceptance by instantaneous communication effective when and where message is received.

This House of Lords case established that psychiatric harm can constitute 'grievous bodily harm' and 'actual bodily harm' under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and that silent telephone calls can amount to assault. The decision significantly expanded the scope of assault and battery offences to include psychological injuries.

A continuing act can constitute assault when mens rea is formed during the act.

A significant case on unlawful act manslaughter involving drug injection. The Court of Appeal held that injecting heroin constituted an unlawful and dangerous act sufficient for manslaughter when the victim died.

Cunningham establishes subjective test for malice in criminal law

Informal family arrangements can create binding contracts with sufficient evidence of intention.

Substantially similar acceptance methods suffice when they achieve the same result.

House of Lords clarifies intent requirements for assault causing bodily harm

Revocation of offer ineffective until communicated to offeree

Foresight of consequences is evidence of intention, not intention itself.

Mere inquiry about terms distinguished from counter-offer in contract formation.