Paul's Injustice

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Paul is liable for the offence of burglary as defined with the Theft Act (TA) 1968 section 9 for attempting to steal Victoria’s ‘personal diary’ from her home. The actus reus of burglary requires that Paul ‘enters any building… as a trespasser’. ‘Building’ is given its ordinary meaning , which Victoria’s home constitutes. ‘Entry’, In R v. Collins , was said to have to be ‘effective and substantial’ however Simester submits the test should be a ‘de Minimis’ rule of a ‘trivial or practically negligible entry’ after conflicting case law. Paul entering Victoria’s house, via ‘an unlocked… bathroom window’ is sufficient enough to constitute entry. Paul enters as a trespasser, by doing so knowingly without authorisation or consent or recklessly …show more content…

Paul clearly intends the penetration as shown by his purpose of ‘getting what he really wanted’ from Victoria. Reasonable belief is outlined in section 1(2) of the SAO 2003 as in ‘regard to all the circumstances including… ascertaining wither B consents’. . Paul does not have a reasonable belief, where he subjectively knows or is reckless as to Victoria’s lack of consent or does not consider consent. The section 75(2)(d) presumption, which also rebuts reasonable belief in consent, shows Paul likely had knowledge Victoria was not consenting because she was ‘passed out. At the minimum Paul makes no attempts to ascertain consent and is therefore reckless as to whether she consents. Victoria not consenting to penetration and Paul lacking reasonable belief of consent from the 75(2)(d) presumption, makes Paul liable for the offence of rape.
Paul has no defences available in regards to rape, Kamaki shows any degree of consciousness from the victim, requires further consideration of consent, however it appears unlikely Victoria displayed any consciousness prior to waking up. It is unlikely that any reasonable belief’ in consent could be inferred Paul and Victoria’s ‘an on-again off-again relationship’, due to her earlier rejection and Paul being informed of her new …show more content…

This case found the law had taken a wrong turn and hence removed JEL. This meant liability as an accomplice requires intention to aid or encourage, with foresight merely acting as evidence of this intention. This case also established that recklessness, as raised within Carter v. Richardson , is not sufficient for the mens rea of accomplice liability. Knowledge or foresight of the offence committed is required for liability. Had this case occurred prior to Jogee the judgement in 2016, where JEL was still alive, the outcome of Selma’s secondary liability following Pauls rape of Victoria could be determined differently, although arguably would not be ultimately

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