Criminal Law

William Wilson is Emeritus Professor of Criminal Law at Queen Mary, University of London. Laura Lammasniemi is an Associate Professor at University or Warwick and Course Convenor and Chief Examiner for criminal law on the University of London International Laws Programme.

Contents in brief

Part I Introduction

Understanding Criminal Law
Decisions to criminalise
Punishment

Part II General principles of criminal liability

Actus reus
Causation
Mens rea
Strict liability
Relationship between actus reus and mens rea
Defences (1): introduction to defences and failure of proof
Defences (2): affirmative defences

Part III Offences against the person

Non-fatal offences
Sexual offences
Homicide

Part IV Property offences

Theft
Fraud and making off without payment
Other property offences
Criminal damage

Part V Inchoate offences and complicity

Inchoate offences
Complicity