Criminal law worksheet with answers

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

1. ADonoghue v Stevenson
2. BWoolmington v DPP
3. CCarlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co
4. DR v Brown

In English law, "voluntary manslaughter" refers to:

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

An omission (failure to act) can lead to criminal liability when:

1. ANever, in any legal system
2. BThe defendant had a legal duty to act
3. CThe defendant was asleep
4. DAny person failed to help a stranger

D supplies heroin to V, an adult, who freely and knowingly injects herself and dies. According to R v Kennedy (No 2), D is:

1. AGuilty of manslaughter, because supply always causes the death
2. BNot guilty of manslaughter, because V's free and informed choice broke the chain of causation
3. CGuilty of unlawful act manslaughter, because supplying a class A drug is itself unlawful and dangerous
4. DGuilty of manslaughter, because V's choice is irrelevant

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

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. ANot guilty, because the substance was harmless
2. BGuilty of the full offence of dealing drugs
3. CNot guilty, because attempting the impossible is no offence under the 1981 Act
4. DGuilty of attempt, as impossibility is no defence under the 1981 Act

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

In R v Cunningham (1957), D tore a gas meter off a wall to steal money; gas leaked and poisoned a neighbour. The court held "maliciously" means:

1. AFailing to notice a risk an ordinary person would see
2. BActing with wickedness or ill will towards the victim, as in ordinary usage
3. CIntending the harm or foreseeing the risk of it and taking it anyway
4. DActing in a way that is against the law