Attempts
a person must:
-Intend to commit the offence
-Take a real and substantial step towards achieving that aim
R V HARPUR
An attempt includes an act or omission constituting a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in his commission of the crime
CA.61 S.72(1)
Everyone who, having an intent to commit an offence, does or omits an act for the purpose of accomplishing his object, is guilty of an attempt to commit the offence intended, whether in the circumstances it was possible to commit the offence or not.
CA.61 S.71(2)
The question whether an act done or omitted with intent to commit an offence, is or is not only preparation for the commission of that offence, and too remote to constitute an attempt to commit it, is a question of law.
CA.61 S.71(3)
An act done or omitted with intent to commit an offence may constitute an attempt if it is immediately or proximately connected with the intended offence, whether or not there was any act unequivocally showing the intent to commit that offence.
Intent
In a criminal law context there are two types of intent:
Explain a Deliberate Act
Intent means that act or ommission must be done deliberately. The act or omission must be more than involuntary or accidental.
Explain an Intent to produce a result
SIMESTER AND BROOKBANKS
In this context result means “aim, object, or purpose”.
ie. act of using document and aim of obtaining pecuniary advantage or other elements.
How do you prove intent?
Offender admissions are good,but support these with circumstantial evidence from which their intent can also be inferred such as: (ACN)
How to prove attempted sexual violation
Explain when an act becomes and attempt
The defendant must have progressed past the stage of preparation and started a process intended to lead to the commission of the full offence. The conduct must amount to a real and practical step towards the actual commission of the crime.
Refer R V HARPUR
Explain sufficiently proiximate
the court will make a cumulative assessment of the defendants conduct at the relevant time in conjunction with any steps taken leading up to that point to infer intent. They may still be several steps away from the ultimate act.
Refer R V HARPUR
Case law regarding attempts
R V HARPUR
The court may have regard to the conduct viewed cumulatively up to the point when the conduct in question stops. The defendant’s conduct may be considered in it entirety. Considering how much remains to be done is always relevant, though not determinative.
Describe examples of attempts from the American Model Penal Code, that may constitute an attempt
Example of when you would charge under S.129(2)
What is the difference between the subsections of S.129