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Involuntary manslaughter in Commonwealth Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

G L Peiris
G L Peiris*
Affiliation:
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Extract

It has been aptly observed that ‘Of all crimes manslaughter appears to afford most difficulties of definition’. More recently, the Court of Criminal Appeal in England has made the comment: ‘There has never been a complete and satisfactory definition of manslaughter.’

The complexity of definition is associated with a peculiar feature of manslaughter, in that the essential mental requisite consists of the accused's state of mind in relation to his physical act rather than to a particular consequence of the actus reus. The crime of manslaughter postulates mew Tea only in the special sense of intention to commit the act which brings about the consequence of death, even though this consequence may not have been desired or even foreseen by the accused. Thus, the intention to cause death or serious injury is not necessarily a requirement of liability for manslaughter.

Type
Research Article
Information
Legal Studies , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , March 1985 , pp. 21 - 55
Copyright
Copyright © Society of Legal Scholars 1985

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162. Ibid; cf for Scots law, Kennedy v HM Advocate [1944] JC 171.

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167. R v Pittwood (1902) 19 TLR 37.

168. R v Coventry (1938) 59 CLR 633 at 639–640 (HCA).

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170. R v Russell 1933 VLR 59 (SC); R v Clarke and Wilton [1959] VR 645 (SC).

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172. R v Baker [1929] SCR 354 at 358 (SC); Arthurs v R [1974] SCR 287 at 292 (SCC).

173. State v Mahlalela 1966 (1) SA 226 at 229 (AD); State v Fernandez 1966 (2) SA 259 at 264 (AD).

174. State v Van Deventer 1963 (2) SA 475 at 483 (AD); Cf State v Van As 1967 (4) SA 594 at 599 (AD).

175. Akerele V R [1943] AC 255 at 264 (PC).

176. Glasgow Corporation v Muir [1943] AC 448 at 457, per Lord Macmillan (HC).

177. Jones NO v SANTAMB pk 1965 (2) SA 542 at 551, per Williamson JA (AD).

178. Ibid.

179. State v Van der Mescht 1962 (1) SA 521 (AD).

180. Bellstedt V SAR 1936 CPD 399 at 409.

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184. Cf Williams, G. L. Criminal Law: The General Part (2nd edn, 1961), p 122 Google Scholar.

185. Ibid at p 110–111.

186. R v Carr (1937) 68 CCC 343 at 348, per Rowell CJO (Ont CA) Wedderburn v Mann [1963] WAR 151 at 154, per Commissioner Boylson (SC of WA); Mann v R [1966] SCR 238 at 251, per Ritchie J (SCC).

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189. Pedu V R [1969] SCR 905 at 919, per Pigeon J (SCC).

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191. R v Stone and Dobinson [1977] 1 QB 354 at 363, per Geoffrey Lane LJ (CA).

192. R v Cato [1976] 1 WLR 110 at 119, per Lord Widgery CJ (CA).

193. R v Rau [1972] Tas SR 59 at 66, per Burbury CJ (CCA).

194. Arthurs V R [1974] SCR 287 (SCC).

195. Cf PJT O'Hearn ‘Criminal Negligence: An Analysis in Depth’ (1964–1965) 7 Crim LQ 27 at 541; cf P. Burns ‘An Aspect of Criminal Negligence’ (1970) 48 Can BR 47 at 55.

196. R v Spencer (1867) 10 Cox CC 525; R v Nicholls (1874) 13 Cox CC 75; R v Handley (1874) 13 Cox CC 79; R v Lode [1973] QB 702.

197. R v Gunter (1921) 21 SR (NSW) 282 (SC); Pemble v R (1971) 45 ALJR 333 (HCA); R v Sergi [1974] VR 1 (SC).

198. R v Smith [1979] Crim LR 251.

199. Ibid.

200. R v Markus (1864) 4 F & F 356; cf the last case cited at n 196, supra.

201. Canadian Criminal Code, 1955 1954, c 51, s 202(1)(b).

202. See the work cited at n 187 supra, at p 103.

203. Leblanc V R [1977] 1 SCR 339 (SCC).

204. State v Van de Mescht 1962 (1) SA 521 (AD).

205. R v John 1969 (2) SA 560 at 570.

206. Johnson V R (1966) 10 WIR 402 at 416, per Wooding CJ.

207. Cf P. Weiler ‘The Supreme Court of Canada and the Doctrines of Mms Red (1971) 49 Can BR 280 at 327.

208. R v Venna [1975] 3 All ER 788 at 794, per James LJ.

209. DPP v Morgan [1976) AC 182 confirmed by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, s 1.

210. MFI Warehouses Ltd v Nattrass [1973] 1 All Er 762 at 767, per Lord Widgery CJ.

211. R v Briggs [1977] 1 All ER 475 at 477–478; cf R v Stephenson [1979] 2 All ER 1198.

212. R v Parker [1977] 2 All ER 37 at 40.

213. Cf R. A. Duff, ‘Recklessness’ [1980] Crim LR 282.

214. R v Mowatt [1968] 1 QB 421.

215. R v Cunningham [1957] 2 All ER 412.

216. R v Caldwell [1981] 1 All ER 961; R v Lawrence [1981] 1 All ER 974; R v Seymour [1983]3 WLR 349.

217. See, in particular, R v Lawrence, n 216, supra.

218. Cf R v Madigan [1982] Crim LR 692.

219. For criticism see G. L. Williams ‘Recklessness Redefined’ (1981] CLJ 252 at 261.

220. R v Scymour [1983] 3 WLR 349 at 358, per Lord Roskill.

221. R v Pigg [1982] 1 WLR 762 at 770–772, per Lord Lane CJ.

224. See, for example, Road Traffic Act 1956, s 8.

223. R v Scymour, n 220 supra, at p 354.

224. Road Traffic Act 1972, s 1(1); see also Criminal Law Act 1977, s 50.

225. R v Governor of Holloway Prison, exp Jennings [1983] 1 AC 624; R v Seymour, n 220 supra, at p 356, per Lord Roskill.

226. Criminal Damage Act 1971, s 1(1).

227. Elliott v C [1983] I WLR 939.

228. Ibid.

229. Ibid at p 947, per Robert Goff LJ.

230. See the cases cited at n 216 supra.

231. R v Miller [1983] 2 WLR 539 at 544, per Lord Diplock.

232. R v Caldwell, n 216 supra, at p 966; R v Lawrence, n 216 supra, at p 982.

233. R v Lane [1982] AC 510 at 527.

234. Elliott V C, n 227 supra, at p 946, per Glidewell J.

235. Cf R v Thomas (1983) 77 Cr App R 65; R v Kimber [1983] 3 All ER 316.

236. R v Caldwell, n 216 supra, at p 966.

237. R v Seymour, n 220 supra, at p 358.

238. Ibid.

239. See Hall, J. General Principles of Criminal Law (2nd edn, 1960), p 544 Google Scholar.

240. Ruse v Read [1949] 1 KB 373; R v Burns (1974) 58 Cr App R 364.

241. DPP V Majewski [1977] AC 443 at 482. 444. Ibid, per Lord Salmon.

243. Bolton V Crawley [1972] Crim LR 222.

244. Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [1969] 1 QB 439 at 444, per James J.

245. Aristotle Ethics, book 3, ch 5, 113b, 31.

246. R v Sheehan and Moore (1975) 60 Cr App R 308; DPP u Majewski, n 241, supra.

247. See the cases cited at n 216, supra.

248. See Williams, G. L. op cit n 219 supra, at p 260 Google Scholar.

249. See the draft bill of the Law Commission accompanying Law Com paper No 89 of 1978, s 4.

250. Para II of Cmnd 7844 presented to Parliament in 1980.

251. See Griew, E. ‘Consistency, Communication and Codification — Reflections on Two Mens Rea Words' in Reshaping the Criminal Law (ed Glazebrook, P. R., 1978) 57 at p 63 Google Scholar; cf C. Wells, ‘Perfectly Simple English Manslaughter’ (1976) 39 MLR 474.

252. Cmnd 6244 of 1975.

253. See Broadhurst v R [1964] AC 441.

254. Cf R v Seymour [1983] Crim LR 260.

255. R v Caldwell n 216, supra.

256. For a vigorous denial of this contention, see G. L. Williams Criminal Law: The General Part (2nd edn, 1961), pp 110–111.

257. Kenny, C. S. Outlines of Criminal LAW (19th edn, 1966, by Turner, J. W. C.), p 191 Google Scholar.

258. R v Instan [1893] 1 QB 450.

259. R v Clarke and Wilton [1959] VR 645 (SC); cf R v Duffy (1980) 6 VLR (L) 430 at 432, per Stawell CJ (SC).

260. R v Cowan [1955] VLR 18 (SC).

261. R v Lowe (1950) 3C & K 123.

262. C. Howard op cit, p 105.

263. R v Davis [1955] Tas SR 52 at 55–56, per Crisp J (SC).

264. Crimes Act, No 43 of 1961 (NZ), s 160 (2)(b).

265. Criminal Code 1953–1954, c 51 (Canada), s 202 (1)(b).

266. See n 264, supra.

267. See n 265, supra.

268. R v Downes (1875) 1 QBD 25; R v Cook (1898) 62 JP 712.

269. R v Lowe [1973] QB 702 at 708, per Phillimore LJ (CA).

270. R v Lowe n 269 supra, at p 709.

271. R v Egan (1897) 23 VLR 159 (SC); but see R v Young [1969] Qd R 417 (SC).

272. R v Hughes (1857) 1 Dears & B 248; R v Benge (1865) 4 F 504.

273. Ibid.

274. R v Forgeron (1958) 121 CCC 310 at 313, per Ilsley CJNS (SC of NS).

275. Smith, J. C. and Hogan, B. Criminal Law (4th edn, 1978), p 314 Google ScholarPubMed, ad fin.

276. Cf H. A. Snelling, ‘Manslaughter by Negligent Act or Omission’ (1958) 31 ALJ 630 at 637.

277. R. J. Buxton ‘By Any Unlawful Act’ (1966) 82 LQR 174 at 181–182.

278. Hale Pleas of the Crown (1778) vol 1, p 466; Coke Institutes III (1797) pp 54–56; East Pleas of the Crown (1803) vol 1, p 218, 257; Hawkins Pleas of the Crown (8th edn, 1824), vol 1, p 89; Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (21st edn, 1844), vol 4, p 192.

279. R v Phillips (1971) 45 ALJR 467 at 479–480, per Windeyer J (HCA).

280. R v Conner (1835) 173 ER 194; R v Marriott (1838) 173 ER 559; R v Bruce (1847) 2 Cox CC 262; R v Wesley (1859) 175 ER 838.

281. Cf Kenny, C. S. Outlines of Criminal Law (13th edn, 1929), p 135 Google Scholar.

282. This change was effected by the Criminal Law Act 1967.

283. R v Franklin (1883) 15 Cox CC 163, per Field J.

284. These reflections were endorsed unreservedly by the English Criminal Law Commissioners of 1845.

285. The Commissioners on Criminal Law, in their 4th Report submitted in 1839, Cmnd 168, were critical or the common Law doctrine applied in authorities like Fenton's case (1830) 1 Lew CC 179 and R v Sullivan (1836) 7 C & P 641.

286. Burchell, E. M. ‘Versari in Re Illicita and Criminal Negligence’ (1962) 79 SALJ 245 at p 246 Google Scholar.

287. R v Hall (1961) 45 Cr App R 366 (CCA).

288. Criminal Code 1953–1954, c 51 (Canada), s 205 (5) (a).

289. Crimes Act No 43 of 1961 (NZ) s 160 (2) (a).

290. See the Tasmanian Criminal Code, s 156 (2) (c).

291. Tamagot V R (1964) 111 CLR 62 (HCA).

292. R v Martyr 1962 Qd R 398 (SC); cf E. M. Bingham ‘Homicide by an unlawful Act’ (1958–1963) I University of Tasmania Law Review 670.

293. Carpzovius Lijfstraffelijke Misdaden c 27, s 5; cf Van der Linden, Inst 2. 5. 7.

294. State v Bernardus 1965 (3) SA 287 (AD).

295. Prior to the decision of the Appellate Division cited at n 251, supra, the versari doctrine had been applied in South Africa: see R v Wallendof 1920 AD 383; R v Matsepe 1931 AD 150; R v Masiya 1961 (1) SA218 (W).

296. R. v Holzer [1968] VR 481 at 482, per Smith J (SC); R v Longley [1962] VR 137 at 148 (SC); Nydam v R [1977] VR 430 at p 440.

297. R v Church [1966] 1 QB 59 at 70, per Edmund Davies J (CCA); cf R v Buck and Buck (1960) 44 Cr App R 213. (North Eastern Circuit).

298. See the cases cited at n 296, supra.

299. Cf Howard, C. op cit, p 114–115Google Scholar.

300. R v Mitchell [1983] 2 WLR 938 at p 943, per Stanghton J (CA).

301. R v Mitchell n 300 supra, at p 942.

302. R v Phillips (1971) 45 ALJR 467 at p 479–480, per Windmeyer J (HCA).

303. R v Rau [1972] Tas SR 59 72, per Nettlefold J (SC).

304. R v Franklin (1883) 15 Cox CC 163.

305. R v Barrett (1846) 175 ER 142.

306. R v Holzer [1968] VR 481 at 482, per Smith J (SC).

307. R v Lowson (1938) 70 CCC 384 at 388, per Adamson J. (KB of Man); cf R v D'Angelo (1927) 48 CCC 127 at 136–137, per Ferguson JA (Ont CA).

308. Andrews V DPP [1937] AC 576 at 584.

309. R v Downes (1875) 1 QBD 25; R v Senior [1899] 1 QB 283.

310. See the case cited at n 303, supra.

311. R v Church [1966] 1 QB 59 at 70 (CCA).

312. R v Tunur [1962] VR 30 at 34 (SC).

313. Pemble V R (1971)45 ALJR 333 at 341 (HCA).

314. R v Phillips (1971) 45 ALJR 467 at 469 (HCA); cf R v McCallum [1969] Tas SR 73 (SC).

315. R v Towers (1874) 12 Cox CC 530; R v Hayward (1908) 21 Cox CC 692; R v Alabaster (1912) 47 LJ Newsp 397.

316. R R Larkin [1943] 1 All ER 217 at 219, per Humphreys J; Gray v Ban [1971] 2 All ER 949 at 960, per Salmon LJ.

317. R v Creamer [1966] 1 QB 72.

318. R v Buck and Buck (1960) 44 Cr App R 213.

319. R v Bottomley (1903) 115 LT 88; R v Lumley (1912) 76 JP 208; R v Newton and Stungo [1958] Crim LR 469.

320. R v Salika [1973] VR 272 (SC) cf R v Brown and Brian [1949] VLR 177 (SC).

341. R v Dalby [1982] 1 WLR 425.

324. Ibid; see D. Cowley ‘Constructive Manslaughter — New Limits’ (1982) 46 J Cr L 188.

323. R v Murton (1862) 3 F & F 492 at 501, per Byles J.

324. R v Mitchell [1983] 2 WLR 938.

325. At p 943.

326. R v Towers (1874) 12 Cox CC 530.

327. R v Larkin, n 316, supra.

328. R v Reid (1975) 62 Cr App R 109 at 112, per Lawton LJ.

329. R v Simpson (1959) 76 WN (NSW) 589 at 592 (CCA).

330. R v Edmonds [1963] I All ER 828 at 831, per Winn J (CCA); cf Woodward v Koessler [1958] 3 All ER 557 (Div Ct).

331. See the case cited at n 321, supra.

332. See the case cited at n 323, supra.

333. Tse Sang v R [1957] HKLR 132 at 146, per Hogan CJ (SC, appell j) commenting on the direction of the trial judge.

334. See the case cited at n 321, supra.

335. See, in particular, dicta of Lord Denning in Gray v Barr [1971] 2 QB 554; cf R v Boswell [1973] Crim LR 307; R v Hosken [1974] Crim LR 48.

336. DPP V Newbury [1976] 2 All ER 365.

337. R v Lipman [1970] 1 QB 152 at 58, per Widgery LJ.

338. R v Church [1966] 1 QB 59 at 70; cf R v Mackie [1973] Crim LR 54.

339. R v Longley [1962] VR 137 at 142.

340. R v Phillips (1971) 45 ALJR 467 at 479–480 where the High Court of Australia interpreted s 156(2)(c) of the Tasmanian Criminal Code.

341. R v Parmenter [1956] VLR 312 at 314–315.

342. R v Holzer [1968] VR 481 at 482.

343. Ibid.

344. R v Longley [1962] VR 137 at 142, per Sholl J.

345. R v Holzer [1968] VR 481 at 482, per Smith J.

346. CJD. Cowley, op cit n 322 supra, at p 190.

347. Cf D. R. Williams, ‘Unlawful Act Manslaughter’ (1975) 1 Monash University Law Review 234 at 257.

348. R v Lamb [1967] 2 QB 981 at 988, per Sachs LJ.

349. State v Lubbe 1963 (4) SA 459 at 466 (W); State v Ramgaga 1965 (4) SA 254 at 256 (0).

350. R v Stone and Dobinson 1977 1 QB 354 at 363, per Geoffrey Lane LJ.

351. Seen 352, infra.

352. R v Longley [1962] VR 137.

353. Ibid; cf R v Clarke [1959] VR 645.

354. Cf G. F. Orchard ‘Drunkenness, Drugs and Manslaughter’ [1970] Grim LR 132 at 217.

355. R v Church [1966] 1 QB 59 at 70.

356. See R v Bennett (1858) 8 Cox CC 74; cf the test proposed by Tindal CJ in R v Fenton (1830) 1 Lew 179.

357. See the commentary on R v Cashmore [1959] Crim LR 850.

358. R v Mitchell [1983] 2 WLR 938 at 942.

359. R v Mitchell, n 358 supra, at p 943.

360. R v Martyr [1962] Qd R 398 at 417, per Townley J (CCA).

361. R v Buck and Buck (1960) 44 Cr App R 213 at 219–220, per Edmund Davies J.

362. R v Howard (1913) 5 WWR 838 (SC of Man).

363. R v Reid (1975) 62 Cr App R 109 at 112, per Lawton LJ.

364. Ibid.

365. Burchell, E. M. and Hunt, P. M. A. South African Criminal Law and Procedure (1970), p 381 Google Scholar.

366. R v Smith (1869) 11 Cox CC 210.

367. Burchell, E. M. and Hunt, P. M. A. op cit n 365 supra, p 373, n 42Google Scholar.

368. Cf R v Mara 1966 (1) SA 82.

369. See n 290, supra.

370. See n 288, supra.

371. See n 289, supra.

372. R v Rau [1972] Tas SR 59 at 72, per Nettlefold J (CCA).

373. Murray V R [1962] Tas SR 170A (CCA); R v McCallum [1969] Tas SR 73 (CCA).

374. R v Phillips (1971) 45 ALJR 467 at 480, per Windeyer J (HCA).

375. See, for example, R v Cato [1976] 1 WLR 110 at 114, per Lord Widgery C.J (CA).

376. P. R. Glazebrook ‘Constructive Manslaughter and the Threshold Tort’, [1970] CLJ 21; W. T. Westling ‘Manslaugher by Unlawful Act: The Constructive Crime Which Serves No Constructive Purpose’ (1973–1976) 7 Syd LR 211.

377. See Archbold, Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice (14th edn, 1859, by Welsby, W. N.), p 527 Google Scholar.

378. A-G for Ceylon v Perera [1953] AC 200 at 205.

379. See R v Hilborn [1946] OR 552 (CA).

380. R v Sharmpal Singh [1962] 2 WLR 238, (PC).

381. R v Lipman [1970] 1 QB 152 at 159, per Widgery LJ (CA).

382. Andrews V DPP, n 1, supra.

383. R v Church [1966] 1 QB 59 at 70, per Edmund Davies J (CCA).

384. Williams, G. L. Criminal Law: The Central Part (2nd edn, 1961), p 245 Google Scholar.

385. Ibid.