Actus Reus (OCR A-Level Law): Flashcards

Physical element of crime: act, omission, or state of affairs

Complete when prohibited act done, regardless of consequences

Requires specific result to be proved (e.g., murder needs death)

Defendant must act voluntarily; no liability for involuntary acts

Liability from 'being' not 'doing' (e.g., having weapon in public)

No liability for failure to act (no Good Samaritan law in England)

Duty to avert danger of one's own making

Factual causation: but for D's acts, would consequence have occurred?

D's conduct must make significant/meaningful contribution to result

Intervening act that breaks the chain of causation