ACTUS REUS • Voluntary Act Or; • Omission to Act Where the Law Imposes a Duty to Act

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ACTUS REUS • Voluntary act or; • Omission to act where the law imposes a duty to act Omissions • Can also form part of the actus reus of an offence only where a person has a legal duty to act • Apply: ▪ Where there is a special relo b/w the accused and the victim • Parents/minors; spouses; inkeeper/guests; primary & secondary teachers/students ▪ Where the accused voluntarily assumes responsibility of victim & undertakes to take care of a helpless person • Duty arises if accused assumes responsibility to help a person and puts victim in a position to seclude him so as to prevent others from helping • MJ and his doctor There is no offence where act is involuntary such as: ▪ Accidental ▪ Forced by someone else ▪ A reflex ▪ Done in a state of automatism (no knowledge of action) • Sleep disorders • Ingestion of drugs or alcohol • Epileptic fit Who can be a victim of Homicide? • Victim MUST be a human being • R v Hutty [1953] VLR 338 Issue • When can a foetus be a victim of a homicide? Rule • Only a person "in being" can be a victim of murder - meaning: fully born Analysis • At the time of birth, the child could be qualified as "in being" because it was able to exist independent of its mother Conclusion • At the time of death, the victim can be considered to be "in being" and thus, the defendant can be prosecuted for the crime of murder MENS REA • Bad or guilty mind which encompasses various mental states Intention • Actual subjective intention of bringing about the prohibited result Knowledge • Awareness that particular circumstances exist or that a particular consequence will occur • Belief that certain facts are true Recklessness • Aware of the risk that result is likely to occur and chooses to proceed Ordinary negligence • Should have known the risk (doesn't usually suffice tho) .

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