On Mon, 12 May 2008 06:11:23 GMT, Svenne wrote:
>
>The media have been full of headlines about the tragic and mindless
>killing of Jimmy Mizen. Unanimously it is described as "murder," but
>what are the grounds for saying this?
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7395323.stm
>
>From the few facts to emerge so far it might well be possible for the
>perpetrator to say his intention was not to kill and enter a plea of
>manslaughter.
>
>Aren't the media prematurely jumping to conclusions here?
>
>Would blanket media misreporting be grounds for the perpetrator, when
>he is arrested, to claim that he cannot get a fair trial?
>
>Svenne
The mens rea for murder is an intention to kill or cause serious
injury. I think most juries would take the view that attacking
somebody with a piece of broken glass inferred an intention to cause
serious injury at the least.
--
Alasdair. |