PGDL STUDY GUIDE
CRIMINAL
LAW
Understand it. Apply it. Ace it.
Clear notes. Key cases. Exam focused.
Everything you need to succeed.
CONTENTS
01 Actus Reus 2
02 Mens Rea 3
03 Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person 4
04 Consent & Self-Defence 5
05 Murder & Voluntary Manslaughter 6
06 Involuntary Manslaughter & Intoxication 7
07 Theft 8
08 Fraud & Making Off Without Payment 9
09 Robbery & Burglary 10
10 Criminal Damage 11
11 Attempts & Secondary Participation 12
★ 30-Second Full Revision 13
You've got this! ♡
, 01 ACTUS REUS
A conviction requires: (1) actus reus, (2) mens rea, (3) absence of a valid defence. Actus reus = an act (or omission), certain
circumstances, and/or a result caused by the defendant's conduct.
CAUSATION
Factual — 'but for' test (R v White). Legal — the culpable act must be an 'operating and substantial' (more than minimal) cause (R v Pagett;
Smith), though not the sole cause (R v Benge). Thin skull rule: take the victim as found, incl. religious beliefs (Blaue).
INTERVENING ACTS
Victim escape: breaks the chain only if disproportionate to the threat (Roberts). Self-neglect (refusing treatment/suicide) doesn't break it unless
a fully voluntary, informed act (R v Wallace). Negligent medical treatment rarely breaks it unless 'so independent and so potent' (Cheshire).
Third-party involuntary acts don't break it (Pagett). Unforeseeable natural events do.
VOLUNTARY ACT & OMISSIONS
Must be voluntary — total loss of control needed for automatism (Bratty; Broome v Perkins). No liability for omissions UNLESS: a special
relationship (Gibbins & Proctor; Stone & Dobinson), contractual duty (Pittwood), public duty (Dytham), statutory duty, or the defendant created
the danger and failed to avert it (R v Miller).
EXAM TIP
Always check for an intervening act BEFORE moving to mens rea — a broken chain ends liability there.
CRIMINAL
LAW
Understand it. Apply it. Ace it.
Clear notes. Key cases. Exam focused.
Everything you need to succeed.
CONTENTS
01 Actus Reus 2
02 Mens Rea 3
03 Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person 4
04 Consent & Self-Defence 5
05 Murder & Voluntary Manslaughter 6
06 Involuntary Manslaughter & Intoxication 7
07 Theft 8
08 Fraud & Making Off Without Payment 9
09 Robbery & Burglary 10
10 Criminal Damage 11
11 Attempts & Secondary Participation 12
★ 30-Second Full Revision 13
You've got this! ♡
, 01 ACTUS REUS
A conviction requires: (1) actus reus, (2) mens rea, (3) absence of a valid defence. Actus reus = an act (or omission), certain
circumstances, and/or a result caused by the defendant's conduct.
CAUSATION
Factual — 'but for' test (R v White). Legal — the culpable act must be an 'operating and substantial' (more than minimal) cause (R v Pagett;
Smith), though not the sole cause (R v Benge). Thin skull rule: take the victim as found, incl. religious beliefs (Blaue).
INTERVENING ACTS
Victim escape: breaks the chain only if disproportionate to the threat (Roberts). Self-neglect (refusing treatment/suicide) doesn't break it unless
a fully voluntary, informed act (R v Wallace). Negligent medical treatment rarely breaks it unless 'so independent and so potent' (Cheshire).
Third-party involuntary acts don't break it (Pagett). Unforeseeable natural events do.
VOLUNTARY ACT & OMISSIONS
Must be voluntary — total loss of control needed for automatism (Bratty; Broome v Perkins). No liability for omissions UNLESS: a special
relationship (Gibbins & Proctor; Stone & Dobinson), contractual duty (Pittwood), public duty (Dytham), statutory duty, or the defendant created
the danger and failed to avert it (R v Miller).
EXAM TIP
Always check for an intervening act BEFORE moving to mens rea — a broken chain ends liability there.
