Case Dictionary

• R v Pittwood 1902?

  Example of a failure to meet a contractual duty

  Defendant failed to close the crossing gates causing the death of a car driver. The defendant was convicted of manslaughter
• R v Gibbins and Proctor 1918?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty because of a relationship

  Defendants kept their child separated from the family and failed to feed her. Both were convicted of murder by neglect
• R v Stone and Dobinson 1977?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty which has been taken on voluntarily

  Defendants failed to get their mentally ill sister sufficient medical treatment, resulting in her death. Both were convicted of manslaughter
• R v Evans 2009?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty which has been taken on voluntarily

  Defendant supplied her sister with heroin which led to her overdose. She was charged with Gross Negligent Manslaughter
• R v Dytham 1979?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty through one’s official position

  Defendant was an on-duty police officer who failed to prevent a man from being kicked to death. He was charged with Misconduct in a Public Office
• R v Miller 1983?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty which arises because the defendant has set in motion a chain of events

  The defendant was squatting in an empty house and failed to take action against a fire caused by a cigarette. The defendant was guilty of arson
• DPP v Santana-Bermudez?

  Example of a failure to meet a duty which arises because the defendant has set in motion a chain of events

  The defendant refused to notify police of the needle in his pocket, even after they asked him to do so. The policewoman suffered injury and the defendant was found guilty of ABH
• Airedale NHS Trust v Bland 1993?

  Example of a decision to stop a patient’s treatment not amounting to an omission

  Bland was injured in the Hillsborough Disaster, leaving him left in a permanently vegetative state, so the doctors asked to stop his treatment. It was ruled a lawful death and the doctors are not liable
• R v Larsonneur 1933?

  Example of a state of affairs actus reus

  A French Woman was guilty of being illegally on British soil following a decision by the Irish police to deport her to the UK
• Winzar v CC Kent 1983?

  Example of a state of affairs actus reus

  Defendant was sent to hospital and discharged for being drunk. When the police removed him from the hospital they immediately charged him with being drunk on the highway
• Hill v Baxter 1958?

  Example of an involuntary action

  A driver lost control of his vehicle because he was attacked by a swarm of bees. He was not liable for any damage
• R v Mitchell 1983?

  Example of an involuntary action

  An elderly man knocked an elderly lady over after he was punched by the defendant. The man was not liable for the lady’s death or injuries
• R v Whoolley 1997?

  Example of an involuntary action

  A man crashed into the back of a vehicle following a sneezing fit he had. The defendant was not liable