← Legal Studies syllabus

WalesLegal Studies

Criminal Law

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does the law distinguish murder from voluntary and involuntary manslaughter?

Fatal offences: murder and its mens rea, the partial defences of loss of control and diminished responsibility reducing murder to voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter by unlawful act and by gross negligence.
Fatal offences for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers murder and its mens rea, the partial defences of loss of control and diminished responsibility under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, and involuntary manslaughter by unlawful act and by gross negligence, with cases.
14 min answer →

What general defences excuse or justify criminal conduct, and what are their requirements and effect?

General defences: insanity and automatism, intoxication (voluntary and involuntary, specific and basic intent), self-defence and the prevention of crime, and consent, with their requirements and effect on liability.
General defences for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers insanity (the M'Naghten Rules), automatism, intoxication (voluntary and involuntary, specific and basic intent), self-defence and the prevention of crime, and consent, with their requirements, effect and cases.
14 min answer →

How is criminal liability extended to attempted offences and to those who assist or encourage a crime?

Inchoate offences and participation: attempts under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (the more than merely preparatory act and intention), and secondary liability for those who aid, abet, counsel or procure the principal offence.
Inchoate offences and participation for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers attempts under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (the more than merely preparatory actus reus and the intention required), impossible attempts, and secondary liability for aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring, with cases.
13 min answer →

How does the law grade non-fatal offences against the person from assault to grievous bodily harm?

Non-fatal offences against the person: assault and battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (s47), malicious wounding and inflicting grievous bodily harm (s20), and wounding or causing GBH with intent (s18), with their actus reus and mens rea.
Non-fatal offences for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers assault and battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm (s47), malicious wounding and GBH (s20), and wounding or causing GBH with intent (s18) under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, with the actus reus, mens rea and cases.
14 min answer →

How are the property offences of theft, robbery and burglary defined under the Theft Act 1968?

Property offences: theft and its five elements under the Theft Act 1968, robbery as theft with force, and burglary under section 9, with their actus reus and mens rea.
Property offences for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers theft and its five elements (appropriation, property, belonging to another, dishonesty and intention to permanently deprive) under the Theft Act 1968, robbery as theft with force, and burglary under section 9, with cases.
14 min answer →

What are the general principles of criminal liability through actus reus, mens rea and causation?

The rules of criminal law: actus reus (including omissions), mens rea (intention and recklessness), the coincidence of actus reus and mens rea, causation, transferred malice, and strict liability.
The general principles of criminal liability for WJEC A-Level Law (Units 3 and 4). Covers actus reus including omissions, mens rea (intention and recklessness), coincidence, causation in fact and law, transferred malice, and strict liability, with cases.
13 min answer →