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
Preliminary Offences
Attempts
- 8 things to know
- Paper 1
Overview
Recall questions on the statute governing attempt, what the prosecution must prove as conduct, and why recklessness will not suffice.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Who decides whether an act is more than merely preparatory in a criminal trial?
A defendant tries to steal from an empty pocket, believing it contains a wallet. Can they be convicted of attempted theft?
What must the prosecution prove regarding the defendant's conduct to establish the actus reus of attempt?
What level of mens rea is required for the offence of attempt?
Why is recklessness insufficient to establish the mens rea for attempt?
Why will recklessness not do for attempted murder, what is the judge's role, and which offences can be attempted?
Which offences can be attempted, can an impossible attempt be charged, and what sentence may follow?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Which statute governs the offence of attempt in English law?
Model answer
Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
- 2
What must the prosecution prove regarding the defendant's conduct to establish the actus reus of attempt?
Model answer
That the defendant did an act which was more than merely preparatory to the commission of the full offence.
- 3
What level of mens rea is required for the offence of attempt?
Model answer
Intention to commit the full offence.
- 4
Why is recklessness insufficient to establish the mens rea for attempt?
Model answer
Because the defendant must intend to bring about the consequences required for the full offence; merely foreseeing a risk of those consequences is not enough.
- 5
If a defendant was reckless as to whether death would result, could they be convicted of attempted murder?
Model answer
No, because attempted murder requires intention to kill; recklessness as to death is insufficient mens rea for attempt.
- 6
Who decides whether an act is more than merely preparatory in a criminal trial?
Model answer
The jury decides this as a question of fact, but only after the judge has ruled that there is sufficient evidence capable of supporting such a finding.
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