Criminal law worksheet with answers

Self-defence is generally a defence when the force used is:

1. AUsed after the threat has ended
2. BAs strong as possible
3. CNecessary and reasonable in the circumstances
4. DPlanned in advance as revenge

The principle "nullum crimen sine lege" means that:

1. AJudges can create new crimes freely
2. BLaws apply retroactively
3. CThere is no crime without a law defining it beforehand
4. DAll crimes are punished with prison

In English law, "voluntary manslaughter" refers to:

1. AA killing caused by gross negligence at work
2. BA killing caused by an unlawful and dangerous act, without intent to kill
3. CA killing with the mens rea for murder where a partial defence applies
4. DA killing that the victim consented to in advance

Gang members threaten D to make her rob a post office. D had joined the gang knowing it used violence. Following R v Hasan, D:

1. ACan rely on necessity instead of duress
2. BCan rely on duress because the threat was real, immediate and impossible for her to escape
3. CCan rely on duress only if the robbery failed
4. DCannot rely on duress because she voluntarily associated with violent criminals

D buys a substance believing it is heroin and intends to sell it on. In fact it is harmless powder. Following R v Shivpuri, D is:

1. AGuilty of attempt, as impossibility is no defence under the 1981 Act
2. BNot guilty, because attempting the impossible is no offence under the 1981 Act
3. CGuilty of the full offence of dealing drugs
4. DNot guilty, because the substance was harmless

D swaps price labels on two items in a supermarket, intending to pay the lower price. Following R v Morris, the appropriation took place when D:

1. ASwitched the labels, assuming one of the owner's rights
2. BLeft the shop without paying
3. CPaid at the checkout
4. DPut the item in the trolley

Conspiracy in English law requires:

1. AAn agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, with intent that it be carried out
2. BA written plan
3. CThe crime to be actually committed
4. DAt least one of the conspirators to have carried out an overt act towards committing the agreed crime

The Gammon (Hong Kong) v Attorney-General (1985) criteria are used to decide whether:

1. AAn appeal should go to the Supreme Court
2. BThe presumption of mens rea is displaced, making an offence strict liability
3. CA defendant was acting under duress
4. DAn omission can lead to criminal liability