Coincidence rule

• Fagan v MPC -coincidence/contemporary rule - a series of linked acts/omission can be treated as a single event

  The defendant stopped his car on a police officer's foot and refused to move. Leaving the car on the police officer's foot was seen as a continuing event once he refused to move the car
• Thablo Meli - coincidence/contemporary rule - the mens rea of the first act can continue over a series of acts and a consequence some days later

  The defendant hit the victim over the head intending to kill him. The defendant thought he was dead and threw him over a cliff where the victim died of exposure
• R v Church - coincidence/contemporary rule - the mens rea of the first act can continue over a series of acts and a consequence some days later

  The defendant went into a van to have sex with the victim, she mocked his incompetence so he knocked her out. The defendant thought the victim was dead so threw her into a river where she drowned