the need for reform - a level law：改革需要一级法

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1、MURDER–CRITICISMS&REFORMS1)Thereisnostatutorydefinitionofmurderjustcommonlaw,yetitisthemostseriousoffencesurelyitdeserveslegislationbyParliament.2)Thenewdirectionforobliqueintentof‘VIRTUALCERTAINTY’isbriefandeasierforajurytounderstand.UnlikethelengthystatementsinMOLONEYandthoseformulatedbytheC/Ain

2、HANCOCK&SHANKLANDTheirLordshipshadstressedtheneedforanydirectiontobe‘clearandsimpleandexpressedinasfewwordsaspossible’butitisstillalongwayfromitsordinarymeaning&thisisboundtocauseconfusiontothejury.3)Themainproblemisthelawonindirect/obliqueintention(foresightofconsequence).S.8oftheCriminalJusticeA

3、ct1967triedtomakethelawclearonthispointstatingthat“Foresightofconsequencewasnotintention;itwasonlyevidencefromwhichintentioncouldbeinferred.”1)ItisfeltthatthisapproachinWOOLLINcancauseproblems.ProfJSmitharguesthatalthoughajurymaybecertainthatDforesawtheconsequencesofhisactionsasaVIRTUALCERTAINTYth

4、eystilldonothavetosaythatDhadtheINTENTION,someonajurymaywanttosomemayno.ProfSmith&theLawCommissionfavourthesameapproach:“Aresultforeseenasvirtuallycertainis=toanintendedresult”Today’slawmeansapersonwhokillsforeseeingdeath/GBHasvirtuallycertainMAYbeamurderer,underthereformsthepersonWOULDbeamurderer

5、.TheCAinMATTHEWS&ALLEYNE2003agreedwiththejudgementinWOOLLINmeantthatFORESIGHTOFCONSEQUENCEISNOTINTENTIONJUSTEVIDENCEOFThereareseveralareasinwhichthelawonmurderisnotsatisfactory.Fourmainpointsare:1)Thedifficultiesindecidingwhatismeantbyintention.(seeabove)2)Thefactthatadefendantcanbeconvictedofmurd

6、ereventhoughhedidnotintendtokill.3)Thefactthattheonlysentenceformurderislifeimprisonment.4)Thefactthattheuseofexcessiveforceinasituationwheresomeforcewasjustifieddoesnotprovideanydefence.5)NodefenceofduressEachoftheseisdiscussedbelow.2)NOINTENTIONTOKILLShouldapersonwhoseesGBHasVirtuallycertain(def

7、initionofintentioninNEDRICKobliqueintention)beconvictedofthesameoffenceassomeonewhowantstokill?ThelawseemstohavenopowertodiscriminatebetweendegreesofblameworthinessTheMRformurderis‘TheintentiontokillorcauseGBH’ei