Causation

• R V White (Factual causation)

  Defendant put poison in mother's drink. She died from heart attack but poison hadn't taken effect yet - but for the defendant poisoning the tea she would have died in any event.
• R V Pagett (Factual causation)

  Defendant used girlfriend as human shield while being shot at by police. Police fired back and killed the girlfriend. She wouldn't have died but for him using her as a human shield.
• R V Roberts (legal causation)

  Girl jumped out defendants car because he made sexual advances to her - reasonably foreseeable so don't break chain of causation
• R V Williams and Davis (legal causation)

  Defendants gave lift to hitch-hiker and tried to rob him so victim jumped out moving car and died from head injuries - not reasonable so does break chain of causation.
• R V Blaue (legal causation) - thin skull rule

  Refused blood transfusion on basis of religious grounds
• R V Smith (legal causation) - acts of third parties (medical treatment)

  Victim received stab wound, defendant argued chain of causation was broken in the way victim was treated because victim dropped twice, doctor didn't realise extent of wounds and treatment was bad which would affect chances of recovery - medical negligence doesn't break chain of causation
• R V Cheshire (legal causation) - third parties

  Victim shot and died of rare complications from a tracheotomy. Defendant was still main reason of tracheotomy so chain wasn't broken
• R V Jordan (legal causation)

  Victim stabbed and week later wound almost healed but doctor gave wrong injection and he died - palpably wrong treatment breaks chain
• Hayward - physical characteristics of victim

  Defendant shouted and chased at wife who collapsed and died of medical condition (thin skull rule)