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Criminal Law: Offences Against the Person

Unlawful act manslaughter

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 2 and 3

Overview

Unlawful act manslaughter also called, four elements of unlawful act manslaughter and test of dangerousness.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Set out the elements of unlawful act manslaughter and the other name it goes by.

Key term

What is unlawful act manslaughter also called?

Key term

State the four elements of unlawful act manslaughter.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is unlawful act manslaughter also called?

    Model answer

    Unlawful act manslaughter is also called constructive manslaughter. Liability is constructed from a lesser unlawful act that causes death.

  2. 2

    State the four elements of unlawful act manslaughter.

    Model answer

    The defendant must commit an unlawful act which is objectively dangerous. The unlawful act must cause the death, and the defendant must have the mens rea for that act.

  3. 3

    Must the unlawful act be a crime rather than a civil wrong?

    Model answer

    The unlawful act must be a criminal offence. R v Franklin (1883) held that a civil wrong such as a tort is not enough.

  4. 4

    Can an omission found unlawful act manslaughter?

    Model answer

    R v Lowe [1973] held that an omission cannot found unlawful act manslaughter. A positive unlawful act is required, though an omission may found gross negligence manslaughter.

  5. 5

    State the test of dangerousness.

    Model answer

    R v Church [1966] held that all sober and reasonable people must recognise the risk of some harm. The harm risked need not be serious.

  6. 6

    Must the defendant foresee any harm?

    Model answer

    R v Newbury and Jones [1977] held that the defendant need not foresee any harm at all. The test of dangerousness is entirely objective.

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