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

Unlawful act manslaughter is a form of:

  1. AVoluntary manslaughter
  2. BInvoluntary manslaughter
  3. CDiminished responsibility
  4. DAttempted murder
2.Easy

A person who helps or encourages another to commit a crime, without carrying out the act themselves, is called:

  1. AA principal offender
  2. BAn innocent agent
  3. CA co-defendant witness
  4. DAn accessory (secondary party)
3.Easy

An "either-way" offence is one that:

  1. ACan be tried in either the magistrates' court or the Crown Court
  2. BCan be committed either by act or by omission
  3. CCan lead either to prison or to a fine only
  4. DCan be prosecuted either by the CPS or by the victim as a private prosecutor
4.Medium

Joint enterprise (accessorial liability) after R v Jogee requires that the accessory:

  1. AWas present at the scene by chance
  2. BMerely foresaw as a real possibility that the principal might commit the crime
  3. CIntended to assist or encourage the principal to commit the crime
  4. DWas related to the principal
5.Medium

Involuntary intoxication can be a defence when:

  1. AThe defendant was less inhibited but still formed intent
  2. BThe defendant chose to drink heavily
  3. CThe offence is a strict liability offence
  4. DIt meant the defendant lacked the required mens rea
6.Medium

"Dolus eventualis" (voorwaardelijk opzet) in Dutch criminal law means the defendant:

  1. AKnowingly accepted the considerable chance that the consequence would occur
  2. BDid not foresee the consequence at all
  3. CActed entirely by accident
  4. DWanted the consequence as their main goal and acted in order to bring it about
7.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. AHeld that cannabis offences require a commercial purpose
  2. BHeld that landladies have a duty to search their tenants
  3. CUpheld the conviction because drug offences are always strict liability in order to protect public health
  4. DQuashed the conviction, holding that mens rea is presumed unless Parliament clearly excludes it
8.Hard

In Re A (Conjoined Twins) (2001), the Court of Appeal allowed surgery that would kill the weaker twin to save the stronger. This is often cited as authority that:

  1. AParental consent is a defence to homicide
  2. BNecessity is a general defence to murder whenever more lives would be saved than lost
  3. CDoctors can never be liable for murder
  4. DNecessity can, in very exceptional circumstances, justify an act that causes death

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Involuntary manslaughter
  2. 2. D · An accessory (secondary party)
  3. 3. A · Can be tried in either the magistrates' court or the Crown Court
  4. 4. C · Intended to assist or encourage the principal to commit the crime
  5. 5. D · It meant the defendant lacked the required mens rea
  6. 6. A · Knowingly accepted the considerable chance that the consequence would occur
  7. 7. D · Quashed the conviction, holding that mens rea is presumed unless Parliament clearly excludes it
  8. 8. D · Necessity can, in very exceptional circumstances, justify an act that causes death

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