This ‘Examination focus’ is relevant for AQA A2 Unit 3 (evaluation of murder and non-fatal offences) and Unit 4 (fault-based liability).
The starting point in all criminal law textbooks for criminal liability is the Latin phrase actus non reum facit nisi mens sit rea, which means that a person cannot be convicted of a crime just because he or she did something ‘wrong’. The prosecution is required to prove both that defendants acted in a certain way and also that when carrying out illegal acts they did so with the required mental element: the mens rea (apart from in strict liability offences).
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
