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Criminal law – Intention. The defendants were convicted of attempted murder and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They appealed against conviction on the basis that it was not possible to seek a conviction for two different offences of specific intent which had an identical actus reus and mens rea. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in dismissing the appeal, held that within the defendants' intention to kill lay an intention to cause really serious physical harm. Proof of the mens rea for attempted murder, by definition, involved proof that the mens rea for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Criminal law – Intention. The defendants were convicted of attempted murder and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They appealed against conviction on the basis that it was not possible to seek a conviction for two different offences of specific intent which had an identical actus reus and mens rea. The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in dismissing the appeal, held that within the defendants' intention to kill lay an intention to cause really serious physical harm. Proof of the mens rea for attempted murder, by definition, involved proof that the mens rea for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
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