Criminal law worksheet with answers

In criminal cases, the prosecution must usually prove guilt:

1. AOn the balance of probabilities
2. BWith at least three witnesses
3. CWith a confession
4. DBeyond reasonable doubt

Burglary in English law (section 9 Theft Act 1968) requires that the defendant entered a building or part of a building:

1. ABy breaking a lock
2. BAs a trespasser
3. CAt night time
4. DWhile armed

In English law, rape is defined in which statute?

1. AThe Offences Against the Person Act 1861
2. BThe Sexual Offences Act 2003
3. CThe Protection from Harassment Act 1997
4. DThe Criminal Justice Act 1988

In English law, the mens rea of murder is:

1. AIntention to frighten the victim
2. BIntention to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm
3. CSubjective recklessness as to causing death or serious harm
4. DNegligence in causing death

D takes a college exam paper, reads it and returns it, planning to cheat. Following Oxford v Moss, D did not steal because:

1. AConfidential information is not property under the Theft Act
2. BThe paper itself was returned, so there was no intention to deprive
3. CExam papers have no economic value
4. DD was a student at the college

D puts poison in V's drink intending to kill her, but V dies of an unrelated heart attack before the poison works. D is guilty of:

1. AAttempted murder
2. BNo offence at all
3. CManslaughter
4. DMurder

Which statement about "noodweerexces" (excessive self-defence) in Dutch law (Article 41(2) Sr) is correct?

1. AThe excess is excused if directly caused by a strong emotional disturbance resulting from the attack
2. BIt applies only to police officers
3. CAny excessive force is always justified
4. DThe excess is justified whenever the defender reasonably feared further attacks from the same person later

In R v Jordan (1956), the court held the chain of causation was broken because:

1. AThe victim refused a blood transfusion for religious reasons, which was unforeseeable
2. BThe victim had an unusually thin skull
3. CA second attacker stabbed the victim again in hospital
4. DThe medical treatment was "palpably wrong" and the wound had mainly healed