AQA A Level Law Reform of the Law on Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter Student Handout/Worksheet

This is a 9-page student handout or worksheet on the topic of the reform of the law on murder and voluntary manslaughter.

It is designed for the AQA Specification but can be used with any Specification requiring a knowledge of reform of the law.

The handout discusses the need for reform in the laws governing murder and voluntary manslaughter, highlighting criticisms and proposed changes.

• Criticisms of Current Murder Law: The current law on murder is criticised for its handling of intent, self-defence, and the mandatory life sentence.
• Issues with Intent: Establishing intent can be problematic, especially when the primary intent was not to kill but to cause serious bodily harm.
• Proposals for Intent: A draft criminal code proposed in 1989 aimed to clarify the definition of murder by including awareness of causing death as part of the intent.
• Self-Defence Concerns: The all-or-nothing approach in self-defence cases is seen as unjust, with defendants either acquitted or sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Mandatory Life Sentence Issues: The mandatory life sentence for murder is criticized for not allowing judges to consider the seriousness of the killing and for leading to inappropriate manslaughter verdicts.
• Reform Suggestions for Sentencing: Suggestions include making life sentences discretionary or introducing different degrees of murder with varying sentences.