AQA A-Level Law 7162
The Nature of Law
The European Union and English Law
Legal Personnel and the Judiciary
Access to Justice and Funding
Parliamentary Law Making
Delegated Legislation
Statutory Interpretation
Judicial Precedent
Law Reform
The Civil Courts and Dispute Resolution
The Criminal Courts and Sentencing
Lay People: Magistrates and Juries
Criminal Law: Rules and Theory
General Elements of Liability
Fatal Offences Against the Person
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person
Property Offences
Preliminary Offences
Criminal Defences
Tort: Rules and Theory
Negligence
Occupiers' Liability
Nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher
Vicarious Liability
Tort: Defences and Remedies
Contract: Rules and TheoryContract
Formation of a ContractContract
Contract TermsContract
Vitiating FactorsContract
Discharge of a ContractContract
Contract: RemediesContract
Human Rights: Rules and TheoryHuman rights
Human Rights in International and UK LawHuman rights
The European Convention ArticlesHuman rights
Restrictions and EnforcementHuman rights
Reform of Human Rights LawHuman rights
Fatal Offences Against the Person
The Elements of Murder
- 3 things to know
- Paper 1
Overview
Recall questions on the four elements of murder at common law and on unlawful killing, the King's peace and who counts as a human being.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What does 'under the King's peace' mean in the definition of murder?
What must the prosecution prove to establish the actus reus of murder?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What are the four elements required to establish murder at common law?
Model answer
(1) Unlawful killing, (2) of a human being, (3) under the King's peace, (4) with malice aforethought.
- 2
What does 'unlawful killing' mean in the context of murder?
Model answer
A killing that is not legally justified or excused (e.g. not in lawful self-defence or by lawful execution).
- 3
What does 'under the King's peace' mean in the definition of murder?
Model answer
The killing must not occur during the course of war against an enemy combatant; it excludes lawful acts of war.
- 4
Who qualifies as 'a human being' for the purposes of murder?
Model answer
A living person; the victim must have been born alive and have an existence independent of the mother.
- 5
What must the prosecution prove to establish the actus reus of murder?
Model answer
That the defendant caused the death of a living human being.
- 6
Define 'malice aforethought' as an element of murder.
Model answer
The mental element of murder, meaning intention to kill or intention to cause grievous bodily harm.
Other ways to work this
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