Beginning Criminal Law
Links and Articles
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Chapter 1
The Times Law Reports is an excellent source of reported case law.
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/reports/
In order to gain an understanding of these early concepts of criminal law, one should read issues concerning criminal cases, procedure or sentencing in the broadsheet newspapers. Tabloid newspapers are not a reliable source. If you are a University student then making use of electronic sources and finding case law and/or relevant articles is a recommended start to any study of the criminal law. If you do not have access to electronic sources, you will find all you need in a good law library.
Chapter 2
Criminal Damage Act 1971 – recklessness – distinction between damage caused by fire and damage otherwise caused – [1997] Crim LR 524–26
Endangering life by destroying or damaging property – [1997] Crim LR 382–95
Chapter 3
Link to the case of R v Kennedy (2007)
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldjudgmt/jd071017/kenny-1.htm
Link to manslaughter guidance (refers to Stone and Dobinson)
D Morgan, ‘The Greatest Danger’ (1992) 142 NLJ 1652 (New Law Journal)
J C Smith, ‘Casenote on “Cheshire”’ [1991] Crim LR 709 (Criminal Law Review)
Chapter 4
Law Commission Report (No. 304) on ‘Murder, Manslaughter and Infanticide’ published in 2006.
www.lawcom.gov.uk/docs/lc304.pdf
‘Academic may face manslaughter charge over girl’s Ecstasy death’, The Times, 12 August 2012
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article3495460.ece
‘Colliery manager arrested over flood deaths of four miners’, The Times, 19 October 2011
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/crime/article3198393.ece
The Times Law Reports, R v Evans (Gemma)
Chapter 5
The Coroners and Justice Act 2009, www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/contents
‘Battered women who kill to be main beneficiaries as homicide law changes’, The Guardian 30 September 2010, www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/sep/30/murder-law-reform
‘Victim’s Infidelity can count as murder’, The Times, 18 January 2012 www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/article3289915.ece
Chapter 6
Link to the case of R v Hasan (2005)
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldjudgmt/jd050317/hasan.pdf
The Law Commission’s Report No 314 on intoxication and criminal liability.
http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/docs/lc314_Intoxication_and_Criminal_Liability_report.pdf
Chapter 7
A brief note from the Law Commission announcing the beginning of a project to overhaul offences against the person at the end of 2013
http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/areas/offences-against-the-person.htm
link to the full case judgement of R v Brown and the issue of consent to harm
Chapter 8
The Law Commission’s report on consent in Sexual Offences.
http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/docs/Consent_in_Sex_Offences.pdf
Comment by a leading criminal barrister about the case fo anonymity for rape suspects
Chapter 9
A contempory twist to theft as the price of metal rises.
Link to the Theft Act 1968
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/pdfs/ukpga_19680060_en.pdf
Chapter 10
House of Commons Justice Committee on the current law and criticisms of the doctrine of Joint Enterprise.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmjust/1597/159705.htm
Crown Prosecution Service guidance on the charging of inchoate offences in England and Wales