FACC 220 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Actus Reus, Murder, Hung Jury
Document Summary
Criminal law: criminal code, related legislation and case law. Court of quebec -> superior court -> court of appeal -> supreme court of canada: components of criminal offences : actus reus & mens rea. To be guilty you need to have done the act and intended it (the act doesn"t make a man guilty unless he intended it, unless the mind is guilty) -> criminal offences. Mens rea can be general intent or specific intent. General intent : require only that the suspect commit the proscribed act. Specific intent : there is no requirement to intent a proscribe result. Ex: attempted murder, i have a gun, i shoot in the direction of the guy. I could be charged with illegally discharging a fire gun, i could be charged of attempted murder. But to be guilty of attempted murder they need to prove that i wanted to kill the guy. Illegally discharging a fire gun: general intent.
