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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Which case is known for the "golden thread" that the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt?

  1. AR v Brown
  2. BWoolmington v DPP
  3. CCarlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co
  4. DDonoghue v Stevenson
2.Easy

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

  1. ARape
  2. BRobbery
  3. CTheft
  4. DMurder
3.Easy

In criminal cases, the prosecution must usually prove guilt:

  1. AWith a confession
  2. BBeyond reasonable doubt
  3. CWith at least three witnesses
  4. DOn the balance of probabilities
4.Medium

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

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

D throws a paving stone off a bridge onto a train, killing the guard. D did not think anyone would be hurt. Following DPP v Newbury and Jones, D is guilty of:

  1. AGross negligence manslaughter only
  2. BMurder, as the act was likely to kill
  3. CNo offence, as D did not subjectively foresee any risk of harm to anyone at all
  4. DUnlawful act manslaughter, as the act was unlawful and objectively dangerous
6.Medium

The "thin skull" rule in criminal law means:

  1. AThe defendant must take the victim as they find them
  2. BA frail victim breaks the chain of causation
  3. COnly healthy victims are protected
  4. DThe victim's injuries must be foreseeable in extent
7.Hard

In R v Whybrow (1951), the court held that the mens rea of attempted murder is:

  1. ARecklessness as to causing death
  2. BAn intention to kill only
  3. CThe same as the mens rea of murder
  4. DAn intention to cause GBH
8.Hard

In Sweet v Parsley (1970), a landlady was convicted of being concerned in the management of premises used for smoking cannabis. The House of Lords:

  1. AQuashed the conviction, holding that mens rea is presumed unless Parliament clearly excludes it
  2. BUpheld the conviction because drug offences are always strict liability in order to protect public health
  3. CHeld that landladies have a duty to search their tenants
  4. DHeld that cannabis offences require a commercial purpose

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Woolmington v DPP
  2. 2. D · Murder
  3. 3. B · Beyond reasonable doubt
  4. 4. B · Is judged on the facts as D honestly believed them to be
  5. 5. D · Unlawful act manslaughter, as the act was unlawful and objectively dangerous
  6. 6. A · The defendant must take the victim as they find them
  7. 7. B · An intention to kill only
  8. 8. A · Quashed the conviction, holding that mens rea is presumed unless Parliament clearly excludes it

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