Criminal law worksheet with answers

Free printable Criminal law worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy

In Dutch criminal law, "noodweer" (Article 41(1) Sr) is:

  1. AA justification for necessary defence against an immediate unlawful attack
  2. BAn excuse based on a strong emotional disturbance caused by an unlawful attack
  3. CA form of preparation for committing a crime
  4. DA rule allowing police to stop and search people
2.Easy

An omission (failure to act) can lead to criminal liability when:

  1. AThe defendant was asleep
  2. BNever, in any legal system
  3. CThe defendant had a legal duty to act
  4. DAny person failed to help a stranger
3.Easy

Which two elements usually make up a criminal offence?

  1. ADuty and breach
  2. BMotive and opportunity
  3. CActus reus and mens rea
  4. DOffer and acceptance
4.Medium

D supplies heroin to V, an adult, who freely and knowingly injects herself and dies. According to R v Kennedy (No 2), D is:

  1. AGuilty of manslaughter, because supply always causes the death
  2. BNot guilty of manslaughter, because V's free and informed choice broke the chain of causation
  3. CGuilty of unlawful act manslaughter, because supplying a class A drug is itself unlawful and dangerous
  4. DGuilty of manslaughter, because V's choice is irrelevant
5.Medium

Strict liability offences are offences where:

  1. AOnly intentional acts count
  2. BLiability arises only if the defendant was negligent as to every element
  3. CThe defendant must confess
  4. DNo mens rea is required for at least one element of the actus reus
6.Medium

Oblique (indirect) intention in English law (R v Woollin) exists when:

  1. ADeath was a foreseeable consequence that a reasonable person would have appreciated
  2. BThe defendant did not foresee any harm
  3. CDeath or serious harm was a virtual certainty and the defendant appreciated this
  4. DThe result was merely possible
7.Hard

Gross negligence manslaughter in English law (R v Adomako) requires:

  1. AIntention to kill
  2. BSubjective recklessness about death
  3. CA duty of care, breach causing death, and negligence so bad that it should be criminal
  4. DAn unlawful and dangerous act causing death, judged objectively by sober and reasonable people
8.Hard

In the Dutch "Melk-en-water" judgment (Hoge Raad, 1916), the court recognised:

  1. AThe legality principle as part of the Constitution
  2. BAbsence of all blame (AVAS) as an unwritten excuse
  3. CConditional intent as a form of intention
  4. DForce majeure as a written justification

Answer key

  1. 1. A · A justification for necessary defence against an immediate unlawful attack
  2. 2. C · The defendant had a legal duty to act
  3. 3. C · Actus reus and mens rea
  4. 4. B · Not guilty of manslaughter, because V's free and informed choice broke the chain of causation
  5. 5. D · No mens rea is required for at least one element of the actus reus
  6. 6. C · Death or serious harm was a virtual certainty and the defendant appreciated this
  7. 7. C · A duty of care, breach causing death, and negligence so bad that it should be criminal
  8. 8. B · Absence of all blame (AVAS) as an unwritten excuse

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