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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

A defendant who did not know what they were doing because of a severe mental disease may rely on:

  1. AInsanity
  2. BDuress
  3. CProvocation
  4. DNecessity
2.Easy

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

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

Diminished responsibility is a partial defence available only to a charge of:

  1. AMurder
  2. BRape
  3. CRobbery
  4. DTheft
4.Medium

D, who honestly but wrongly believes V is attacking a stranger, punches V. Following R v Williams (Gladstone), D:

  1. AIs liable, because the mistake was about the facts
  2. BIs liable, because the mistaken belief was not based on reasonable grounds
  3. CIs judged on the facts as D honestly believed them to be
  4. DMust prove the belief on the balance of probabilities
5.Medium

Two adult friends agree to a fist fight in the street, and one breaks the other's nose. Following A-G's Reference (No 6 of 1980), consent is:

  1. ANo defence, because a street fight causing actual bodily harm is not in the public interest
  2. BA full defence, because both adults freely agreed to the fight and accepted the risk of injury
  3. CA defence only if the fight was planned in advance
  4. DRelevant only to the sentence and never to guilt
6.Medium

A, a lifeguard paid to watch a pool, reads a magazine while a child drowns. A could be liable for an omission because of:

  1. AA contractual duty to act
  2. BA special relationship with the child's parents
  3. CBeing the only person who saw the child
  4. DHaving created the dangerous situation
7.Hard

In R v Sullivan (1984), D injured a friend during an epileptic seizure. The House of Lords held:

  1. AD was guilty because he knew he was epileptic
  2. BEpilepsy was a "disease of the mind" in law, so the defence was insanity
  3. CEpilepsy was an external factor, so the defence was automatism
  4. DOnly psychiatric illnesses can be diseases of the mind
8.Hard

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

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

Answer key

  1. 1. A · Insanity
  2. 2. A · A justification for necessary defence against an immediate unlawful attack
  3. 3. A · Murder
  4. 4. C · Is judged on the facts as D honestly believed them to be
  5. 5. A · No defence, because a street fight causing actual bodily harm is not in the public interest
  6. 6. A · A contractual duty to act
  7. 7. B · Epilepsy was a "disease of the mind" in law, so the defence was insanity
  8. 8. A · A duty of care, breach causing death, and negligence so bad that it should be criminal

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.