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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.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

Which statute governs the offence of attempt in English law?

Key term

Who decides whether an act is more than merely preparatory in a criminal trial?

Key term

A defendant tries to steal from an empty pocket, believing it contains a wallet. Can they be convicted of attempted theft?

Key term

What must the prosecution prove regarding the defendant's conduct to establish the actus reus of attempt?

Key term

What level of mens rea is required for the offence of attempt?

Key term

Why is recklessness insufficient to establish the mens rea for attempt?

Process

Why will recklessness not do for attempted murder, what is the judge's role, and which offences can be attempted?

Process

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. 1

    Which statute governs the offence of attempt in English law?

    Model answer

    Section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.

  2. 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. 3

    What level of mens rea is required for the offence of attempt?

    Model answer

    Intention to commit the full offence.

  4. 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. 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. 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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