Post on 09-Apr-2018
transcript
Criminal Law
Review
Test May 19th
History of Criminal Law
According to the BNA, both the Federal
and Provincial governments are
responsible for enacting criminal laws
SHARED Jurisdiction
Our Criminal Code enacted in 1892 is
derived from the British Criminal Laws
Criminal Law Jurisdiction
Both the Federal and Provincial
governments are responsible for enacting
criminal laws
Provincial governments provide power to
municipalities to enact their own laws
called bylaws
This is why criminal courts are at the
federal and provincial level.
Criminal Law Jurisdiction
Both the Federal and Provincial
governments are responsible for enacting
criminal laws
Provincial governments provide power to
municipalities to enact their own laws
called bylaws
This is why criminal courts are at the
federal and provincial level.
Provincial Courts
The lowest level of Canadian Courts
Consists of Provincial Courts & Superior
Courts
- Regular Provincial Court consists of trial
divisions
- Superior Courts consist of trial and appeal
divisions
Federal Court System
Consists of a Trial Division, an Appeal Division,
and the Supreme Court of Canada
The trial division can hear civil issues that
involve the federal government
The Federal Courts also have jurisdiction to
hear appeal cases from federally appointed
boards and commissions like the Human Rights
Commission.
Supreme Court of Canada
Consists of one chief justice and 8 judges
The Supreme Court of Canada only hears one
type of case. There is no trial division
A CRIME
An act or omission of an act that is
prohibited and punishable by federal
statute
An act or omission of an act that is
prohibited and punishable by federal
statute
An act or omission of an act that is
prohibited and punishable by federal
statute
Youths under 12 are not responsible
Omission of an Act
some crimes are not the acts that you
commit but rather the failure to act in
certain situations
Example: next slide
Omission of an Act - Example
If a father watches his child drown in
a shallow pool and does nothing,
he may be guilty of homicide on
account of the responsibility he
holds for his child's life.
Other Omissions of an Act
Failing to:
pay taxes
child support,
and alimony
are a few recognizable examples of
omission
4 Conditions of a CRIME
The act is considered wrong by society
The act causes ‘harm’ to society in
general or to those who need protection
The ‘HARM’ must be serious
The ‘REMEDY’ must be handled by the
criminal justice system
Criminal Law
What do these laws do?
Protect people and property
Maintain order
Preserve standards of public decency
Criminal Code of Canada
Canada’s Federal Statute that identifies the
majority of criminal laws
Includes crimes and punishments
Can be changed or amended based on
changes in public sentiment or technological
advances
Elements of a Crime
To convict someone of a crime, the Crown
usually has to prove two things existed at
the time the offence was committed:
1.the act itself
2. the intention to commit the act
These elements are referred to as actus reus
and mens rea
Actus Reus Final Words
Actus reus has to be voluntary, not forced
by someone else
I threaten you to commit a robbery is not
a voluntary act
You are sleepwalking and commit an
offence = no actus reus
Reflex reactions = no actus reus
Case page 148 – Perjury
Actus Reus & Omission
Failing to do something can be considered
a wrongful act
Example
New (and by definition inexperienced)
parents do not give their baby enough to
eat
Baby dies of malnutrition
S. 215(1) says those parents can be
charged with failure to provide their
baby with the necessities of life
Actus Reus & State of Being
Your friend says that he / she has a MacBook
in his / her car that he / she no longer
needs. He / she says you can have it
You later find out the MacBook was stolen
during a home invasion
Being in possession of stolen goods is an
offence where the wrongful act is a state of
being
What’s another example of state of being?
Mens Rea & Intent
Intent = meant to do something wrong,
recklessly disregarding the consequences,
and knew or should have foreseen the
results
wilfully or intentionally are words that show
intent
assault was defined as “applies force
intentionally”
intentionally shows the mens rea of assault
Cannot find glasses and
decide to drive without
them.
Consciously taking an unjustified risk that a
reasonable person would not take
Recklessness (Mens Rea)
Wilful Blindness(Mens Rea)
A deliberate closing of one’s mind to the
possible consequences of one’s actions.
Buying Stolen property
Explain Motive vs Intent
Motive is a person's reason for committing a
crime, whereas intention relates to a person's
state of mind and willingness to break the law.
Specific and General Intent
What are the two types of
Intent?
Specific and General Intent
General means that the person had intent to
commit the act without any other motive
Specific Intent = the commission of one
wrongful act in order to accomplish another
Specific is harder to prove than general
Perjury is an example of specific intent
What are the two types of Offences?
Summary
Indictable
Summary vs Indictable Offences
Not so serious vs serious offence
Summary Conviction &
Indictable Offence
A Summary Conviction is a minor offence
that carries a relatively light penalty.
Generally the maximum penalty is up to
$2000 or 6 months in jail.
An Indictable Offence is a serious crime
and carries a heavy penalty. The Criminal
Code can have penalties for indictable
offences ranging from 2 years to life in
prison.
What is Due Diligence?
Due diligence can be used as a defense.
Due Diligence states that the offender did
everything they could to avoid breaking the law
(ie when you have a car accident that prevents
you from getting an MVI) – this is actually absolute
liability
Strict Liability Offences
Strict liability offences often involve environmental
pollution laws that companies may infringe.
Due diligence can be used as a defense.
Involvement in Crime
Parties to an offence – those people who
are indirectly involved in committing a
crime.
Perpetrator – the person who commits
Aiding – helping the perp
Abetting – encouraging the perp
Counselling – advising the perp
Accessory after the fact – receives,
comforts, or assists a perp to escape
Part 1 - Stages to a Criminal Trial
(Crown 1st)
1. The jury is chosen and addressed, they
also choose a foreman (arraignment prior
to jury selection)
2. Opening Statement by the prosecutor
(crown) which summarizes the offences
and evidence against the accused
3. Examination of witnesses – Direct
examination is the first. Cross examination
by the defense is second
Motion for dismissal???
Part 2 - Stages to a Criminal Trial
(Defense 2nd)
4. Defense Opening Statements
5. Defense Witnesses – Examination and
cross examination by the Crown
6. When the defense is finished with its
evidence the Crown can rebut (or
contradict) new evidence from the
defense
Defense may offer surrebuttal which is a
contradiction of the Crowns rebuttal
Stages to a Criminal Trial
7. Summary of the Case – each party gets
a chance to close (Closing Arguments)
8. Charge to the Jury – the explanation of
the law to the jury by the judge
9. The Verdict – a unanimous decision for
guilty or not guilty
Qualifications of a Juror
and Jury selection
Jurors will be ordinary Canadian citizens
of the community
They will be at least 18 years old
They will be a resident of the province for
at least 1 yr
Cannot be a politician or lawyer etc.
It is the sheriff of the court that is
responsible to take care of the jury
The bailiff assists the sherriff
direct and circumstantial
What are the two types of evidence at a trial?
Leading Questions
Questions that suggest to the witness a particular
answer.
Hearsay Statements
The experiences of third parties that are not
admissible in court.
Immaterial or Irrelevant
Questions
Questions that are not relevant to the case at
hand.
Review
In a criminal case the accused is called the
defendant and the representative of the crown
is called the
Prosecutor
Challenge for Cause
This refers to the right of the courts to exclude
someone from a jury for a reason that may
include
Peremptory Challenge
refers to the right of both parties in a criminal case
to exclude someone from a jury without giving a
reason
Review
When a jury cannot agree on a unanimous
decision it is called a
Hung jury
Review
refers to the right of both parties in a criminal
case to exclude someone from a jury without
giving a reason
peremptory challenge
Review
The decision reached in criminal cases is called a
Verdict
Review
Prior to trial, the accused is brought before the
jury panel for
Arraignment
Review
The jury selects its own leader called a
foreman
What is an example of
state of being?
Possession of stolen property
Being inside a gambling house
In possession of break and enter
equipment