Ability to transfer malice from one
individual to another individual
Malice must be the same offence
Latimer 1886 - D aimed belt blow at a
man because he attacked D. Blow actually
struck a woman across the face
Malice is non-transferrable in a different
offence to which was intended
Pembliton 1876 - D threw a stone,
intending to hit people, but stone broke
a window
Factual Causation
"But for" test
White !910
But for the actions of D, would V
have died or suffered the result?
Legal Causation
This is a question for the Jury
"De Minimus" rule
Kimsey 1996
Was D's contribution more than minimal?
Novius Actus Intervenienes
Must be unforeseeable and the
overwhelming cause of result
3.. Naturally Occuring Events
1. Third Party
Smith 1959 - ruling - "Chain of
causation will not be broken whilst
original injury is still in operation"
Cheshire 1991 - ruling - "Intervening medical
treatment must be so independent and so
potential in causing result to exclude D's
responsiblity for the act"
2. Victim's Own Actions
Roberts 1971 - "Daftness Test" - Was the actions of V so daft
that no reasonable man could be expected to foresee it?
Williams 1992 - ruling - "to make D
guilty, V's actions had to be foreseeable
and in proportion to the act"
Thin Skull Rule
D must take V as he finds him. it means that if V has
something such as a physical or mental illness or particular
belief which makes the injury worse, D will be liable for more
serious injury
Blaue 1975 - V was stabbed
by D and needed a blood
transfusion. But refused as
was a Jehavoh's Witness.
She later died and D was
charged with murder