Name of the case Facts Decision / What was held
Adomako [1995] Gross negligence manslaughter Defined gross negligence
test clarified manslaughter test; criticised as
circular
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] Patient in persistent vegetative Lawful to withdraw life support
state
Aitken [1992] Injury caused during drunk fire Conviction quashed
prank
Antar [2004] Mental impairment evidence in Mental impairment evidence
duress case allowed
Attorney General for Jersey v Provocation case Established “reasonable person”
Holley [2005] test for provocation
Ball [1989] Mistaken belief about danger Doesn’t aXect reasonable
person’s view
B (A Minor) v DPP [2000] Mens rea presumption Confirmed presumption of mens
rea
Blaue [1975] Victim refused blood transfusion Refusal didn’t break causation
for religious reasons
Bowen [1996] Low IQ & duress Low IQ not relevant for duress
Bratty v AG [1963] Automatism defined Must be total loss of control
Bree [2007] Intoxicated consent Valid if capacity remained
Broughton [2020] Contribution to death for Significant contribution required
manslaughter to convict
Brown (Richard) [2013] Mens rea presumption ReaXirmed mens rea
presumption in strict liability
Brown [1994] Consent & serious harm in Consent not a defence
sexual acts
Bryne [1960] Abnormality of mind defined Significant deviation from
ordinary mind
Burgess v Byram [2008] Assisting drug use May still create liability
Camplin [1978] Child killed abuser Age and sex relevant to
reasonable person test
Caldwell [1982] Objective recklessness test Introduced; later overruled
Chapman [2017] Legal status of nitrous oxide Considered by court
Cheshire [1991] Medical treatment & causation Original wounds still
contributed; no break in
causation
Church [1966] Unlawful act & danger Unlawful act must be objectively
dangerous
Clinton [2012] Sexual infidelity Can be relevant if part of wider
context
Cole v Turner Slightest touching in anger Battery
Conway [1989] Duress of circumstances Allowed if fleeing perceived harm
, Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Corporate manslaughter £385k fine imposed
Ltd [2011]
Corbett [1996] Victim characteristics & Considered in reasonableness
response
Dalloway [1847] Carelessness & child’s death No causation; child would have
died regardless
Dalby [1982] Drug supplier & harm Not liable where act not directed
at victim
Dawson and Dawson [2021] Loss of control Cannot be based on sustained
violence alone
Dear [1996] Victim with open wounds Original injury still substantial
cause
Dias [2001] Self-injection Ruled non-criminal
Donovan [1934] Consent & sexual harm Consent not defence
Downes [1875] Father & child death Convicted of manslaughter for
failing to seek help
Dr Arthur [1981] Withheld food from baby with Considered omission; liable
Down’s Syndrome
DPP v Santana Bermudez [2003] OXicer injured by needle in Omission to warn caused harm
pocket
DPP v Smith [1961] Objective test for intent Introduced; heavily criticised
DPP v Smith [2006] Cutting hair ABH
Dudley and Stephens [1884] Cannibalism at sea Necessity not accepted
Dytham [1979] Police oXicer stood by Convicted of misconduct in
public oXice
Evans [2008] Created dangerous situation Duty to act arose; liable
(heroin)
F v West Berkshire HA [1989] Necessity & treatment Justified treatment without
consent
Fagan v MPC [1969] Continuation of act Mens rea & actus reus coincide
Field [2021] Manipulated victim into fatal Defendant liable
drinking
Finlay [2003] Foreseeability of self-injection Liability upheld
Fitzpatrick [1977] Joining IRA voluntarily Duress defence unavailable
Flattery [1877] Deception about medical Rape
procedure
Flatt [1996] Drug addiction & duress Not valid for duress
Franklin [1883] Tort throwing box into sea Not enough for manslaughter
Gallagher Dutch courage principle Cannot rely on drunkenness as
defence
Gammon (HK) Ltd v AG [1985] Strict liability presumption Mens rea presumed unless clear
contrary intent
Gibbins and Proctor [1918] Step-mother starved child Convicted of murder
Golden Thread Principle Proof beyond reasonable doubt
Adomako [1995] Gross negligence manslaughter Defined gross negligence
test clarified manslaughter test; criticised as
circular
Airedale NHS Trust v Bland [1993] Patient in persistent vegetative Lawful to withdraw life support
state
Aitken [1992] Injury caused during drunk fire Conviction quashed
prank
Antar [2004] Mental impairment evidence in Mental impairment evidence
duress case allowed
Attorney General for Jersey v Provocation case Established “reasonable person”
Holley [2005] test for provocation
Ball [1989] Mistaken belief about danger Doesn’t aXect reasonable
person’s view
B (A Minor) v DPP [2000] Mens rea presumption Confirmed presumption of mens
rea
Blaue [1975] Victim refused blood transfusion Refusal didn’t break causation
for religious reasons
Bowen [1996] Low IQ & duress Low IQ not relevant for duress
Bratty v AG [1963] Automatism defined Must be total loss of control
Bree [2007] Intoxicated consent Valid if capacity remained
Broughton [2020] Contribution to death for Significant contribution required
manslaughter to convict
Brown (Richard) [2013] Mens rea presumption ReaXirmed mens rea
presumption in strict liability
Brown [1994] Consent & serious harm in Consent not a defence
sexual acts
Bryne [1960] Abnormality of mind defined Significant deviation from
ordinary mind
Burgess v Byram [2008] Assisting drug use May still create liability
Camplin [1978] Child killed abuser Age and sex relevant to
reasonable person test
Caldwell [1982] Objective recklessness test Introduced; later overruled
Chapman [2017] Legal status of nitrous oxide Considered by court
Cheshire [1991] Medical treatment & causation Original wounds still
contributed; no break in
causation
Church [1966] Unlawful act & danger Unlawful act must be objectively
dangerous
Clinton [2012] Sexual infidelity Can be relevant if part of wider
context
Cole v Turner Slightest touching in anger Battery
Conway [1989] Duress of circumstances Allowed if fleeing perceived harm
, Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Corporate manslaughter £385k fine imposed
Ltd [2011]
Corbett [1996] Victim characteristics & Considered in reasonableness
response
Dalloway [1847] Carelessness & child’s death No causation; child would have
died regardless
Dalby [1982] Drug supplier & harm Not liable where act not directed
at victim
Dawson and Dawson [2021] Loss of control Cannot be based on sustained
violence alone
Dear [1996] Victim with open wounds Original injury still substantial
cause
Dias [2001] Self-injection Ruled non-criminal
Donovan [1934] Consent & sexual harm Consent not defence
Downes [1875] Father & child death Convicted of manslaughter for
failing to seek help
Dr Arthur [1981] Withheld food from baby with Considered omission; liable
Down’s Syndrome
DPP v Santana Bermudez [2003] OXicer injured by needle in Omission to warn caused harm
DPP v Smith [1961] Objective test for intent Introduced; heavily criticised
DPP v Smith [2006] Cutting hair ABH
Dudley and Stephens [1884] Cannibalism at sea Necessity not accepted
Dytham [1979] Police oXicer stood by Convicted of misconduct in
public oXice
Evans [2008] Created dangerous situation Duty to act arose; liable
(heroin)
F v West Berkshire HA [1989] Necessity & treatment Justified treatment without
consent
Fagan v MPC [1969] Continuation of act Mens rea & actus reus coincide
Field [2021] Manipulated victim into fatal Defendant liable
drinking
Finlay [2003] Foreseeability of self-injection Liability upheld
Fitzpatrick [1977] Joining IRA voluntarily Duress defence unavailable
Flattery [1877] Deception about medical Rape
procedure
Flatt [1996] Drug addiction & duress Not valid for duress
Franklin [1883] Tort throwing box into sea Not enough for manslaughter
Gallagher Dutch courage principle Cannot rely on drunkenness as
defence
Gammon (HK) Ltd v AG [1985] Strict liability presumption Mens rea presumed unless clear
contrary intent
Gibbins and Proctor [1918] Step-mother starved child Convicted of murder
Golden Thread Principle Proof beyond reasonable doubt
