Complete Criminal Law: Text, Cases, and Materials, 3 edition

Book Preface

I am very pleased to present the third edition of Complete Criminal Law. This book contains full coverage of new developments which were due to emerge after publication of the last edition two years ago, namely, the changes made to the partial defences to murder by the Coroners & Justice Act 2009. Publication of this third edition has also allowed me to expand consideration of certain areas previously only briefl y described: offences contrary to s1 and s4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, racially and religiously aggravated assaults under the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 and corporate homicide contrary to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. The following new cases have been included in some detail: Girdler (Causation), Zahid, M & B (Strict Liability), Willett, Gnango, ABCD, Mendez & Thompson, Stringer (Joint Enterprise), Winter & Winter (Gross Negligence Manslaughter), Keane, Burns (Self-defence), Doyle (Rape), Ricketts, Vinall (Theft), SH, Jones (Racial Aggravation) and Curtis (Harassment). I recognise, of course, that many other new cases had a competing claim for inclusion. It is necessary, however, to strike a balance between detail and structure, the latter being a paramount need of the student. Nevertheless, I have, wherever necessary, referred to such further cases as reveal the potential for future development of key issues and interest, such as Asange in relation to consent and rape. The sections on gross negligence manslaughter and self-defence have also been re-organised more logically. At the time of writing, the Supreme Court is about to deliver judgment in Gnango. Last minute editing will permit its inclusion in Chapter 5. Unfortunately, the following 2012 cases arose too late for anything more than a short note: Clinton (Loss of Control), Dowds (Diminished Responsibility) and Seray-Wurie (criminal damage). The Home Offi ce is currently considering whether the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 requires revision. Doubtless, some sort of legal refi nement will result in the next year or so and this will be referred to in on-line updates. In all other respects, the book remains essentially the same: a concise account of the law with detailed, critical analysis of essential areas, extracts from key judgments and academic articles and an attempt to situate the law within its social and cultural environment. Pedagogic features such as questions, examples, diagrams and advice on examination technique are, as before, core to the book. It remains, therefore, suitable as a companion to criminal law courses on the LLB, CPE and BA.

I am grateful to my editor, John Carroll, for his help and guidance throughout this process of revision and to Suzy Armitage, OUP Production Editor, for turning this edition into hardcopy reality in such a problem-free manner. My thanks also to Rob Crossley, for his eye for detail during copy-editing and to Julie Stone, proof-reader. Without their professionalism, efficiency or, above all, patience, I should have been much the worse. Responsibility for all errors and omissions are mine.

Janet Loveless
March 2012.