CRIMINAL LAW

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CRIMINAL LAW

• Module 5

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LAST WEEK

• Statutory interpretation
• Elements
• Meanings of words
• In the statute or elsewhere
• Specific rules
• ejusdem generis
• Narrow or strict interpretation
• Approaches
• Literal
• Golden
• Mischief
• Purposive Acts Interpretation Acts
• The example
• http//www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT
  /T/TrantOpRUA95_05F_020801.pdf

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TODAY

• Civil / Criminal
• Aims of punishment
• Summary / indictable offences
• Getting to court
• Arrest, summons,bail
• Types of hearings
• The jury
• Elements of a crime
• White-collar crime

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DIFFERENCESCivil/Criminal

• Parties
• Title of case
• Function
• Civil - compensate
• Criminal - punish
• Procedural
• Commencement of action
• Standard of proof
• Onus of proof
• Outcomes

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DEFINITIONS

• Crime
• Act or omission prohibited by law
• with penal consequences
• Morals ?
• Justice ?

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Aims of Punishment

• JOSE MANUEL MIGUEL XAVIOUR GONZALES

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AIMS OF PUNISHMENT

• Retribution
• Deterrence
• Restraint or incapacitation
• Rehabilitation

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SOURCES OF LAW

• Common law
• Statute
• http//www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT
  /C/CriminCode_04D_020719.pdf
• Commonwealth
• Commonwealth Crimes Act
• Corporations Law
• Trade Practices Act
• Taxation

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PROSECUTION

• Onus on prosecution
• Doesnt represent victim
• Victim impact statement

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SUMMARY / INDICTABLE OFFENCES

• Summary
• Magistrate
• No jury
• Simple offences dealt with summarily
• Indictable
• District/Supreme Courts
• Judge and jury
• Some can be dealt with summarily
• Felonies / misdemeanours
• Arrest without warrant

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GETTING TO COURT

• Arrest and charge
• Reasonable grounds
• Crimes
• If caught red handed
• Deadly force?
• Assault?

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ARREST PROCEDURE

• Tell accused
• Reason
• Strict adherence?
• Private citizen arrest
• Not just suspect offence committed
• Wrongful arrest, assault
• Fundamental freedom arbitrary arrest

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GETTING TO COURT (contd)

• Charges, holding charges
• First court appearance
• Forthwith
• R v Williams
• Confession
• Dont get arrested Friday night
• Remand
• In custody?

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BAIL

• Release
• Sureties
• Pledge
• Own recognisance no sureties
• Watch-house bail
• Not for serious offences
• Minor offences cash bail

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CRITERIA FOR BAIL

• Prior convictions
• Risk of non appearance
• Protection of public/accused
• Seriousness
• Character
• Stability of home life

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GETTING TO COURT (contd)

• Summons
• Justice of the Peace
• Less serious offences
• Penalty in absence of defendant

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SUMMARY HEARINGS

• Trial no jury
• Magistrate law and fact
• Beyond reasonable doubt
• 2 years jail fines
• Absence of defendant
• Not when imprisonment ordered

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COMMITTAL HEARING

• Indictable offences
• Prima facie case?
• Sufficient evidence
• Unlikely to convict as a matter of law
• Notice to defendant of issues
• Coronial inquests

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CRITICISMS OF COMMITTAL

• Evidence given twice
• Distressing for victims
• Crown doesnt get details of defence case
• Evidence required of non-contentious issues
• Alibi claim to be notified

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JURY TRIAL

• Presentation of indictment
• Empanel jury
• Challenges
• As of right
• For cause
• Evidence
• Addresses by counsel and judge
• Verdict and sentence
• Unanimous
• Considerations in mitigation

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JURY SYSTEM

• Reading 5.2
• Advantages
• Avoids legalistic approach
• Safeguards against abuse of judicial power
• Adds credibility to criminal legal system
• Disadvantages
• Expensive and unrepresentative
• Understanding of legal process and technical
  issues
• Swayed by personal and public opinion
• Compensation in civil cases

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ELEMENTS OF A CRIME

• Conduct actus reus
• Prohibited effect
• Guilty mind mens rea
• Example - murder
• Shoot, death, intention

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ACTUS REUS

• Acts or omissions
• Voluntary
• Reflex? Sleep walking? Concussed? Extreme
  intoxication?
• Jiminez v R
• Fell asleep at wheel
• Causation

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CAUSATION

• Result crimes
• Conduct must cause the result
• Operating and substantial cause
• Intervening acts
• Conduct crimes
• Conduct constitutes the crime
• Eg unlicensed firearm
• All elements must be proven

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MENS REA

• Knowledge of the circumstances
• Didnt own goods
• Intended the results of the action
• To steal or kill
• Also recklessness or negligence
• Crabbes case
• Prime mover into hotel
• Possible not probable

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STRICT LIABILITY CRIMES

• No mens rea needed
• Loss of civil rights Why?
• Non serious offences
• Public interest traffic, pollution, food
  contamination
• Where otherwise legislation would be unworkable
  intention to speed
• Clog up courts

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DEFENCES TO STRICT LIABILITY

• Usual defences
• Mental incapacity, involuntary intoxication,
  automatism
• Honest and reasonable mistake
• Act of a stranger
• No control
• But absolute liability
• Clear legislative intention needed

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WHITE-COLLAR CRIME

• Having the right law
• Catching the criminal
• Technology
• Securing convictions
• Stealing a person steals
• Without consent
• Fraudulently
• Takes and carries away
• Anything capable of being stolen
• With intent to permanently deprive
• ATMs? Computer programs?

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SUMMARY

• Civil / Criminal
• Aims of punishment
• Summary / indictable offences
• Getting to court
• Arrest, summons,bail
• Types of hearings
• The jury
• Elements of a crime
• White-collar crime

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NEXT WEEK

• Torts