CRL Topic 4- Causation (second year LLB) PDF

Preview

Summary

Criminal Law Topic 4: CAUSATIONLecture and Narrated Slides - Study MaterialAt the end of this topic you should be able to: dis%nguish  between  consequence  crimes  and  conduct  crimes define  the  concept  of  causa%on discuss  the  meani...

Description

Criminal Law Topic 4: CAUSATION Lecture and Narrated Slides - Study Material At the end of this topic you should be able to: ! • dis%nguish*between*consequence*crimes*and*conduct*crimes*! •

define*the*concept*of*causa%on*!

• discuss*the*meaning*of*factual*causa%on*and*legal*causa%on*! • define*the*test*of*factual*causa%on*! • define*the*test*of*legal*causa%on*! • describe*the*approach*of*the*courts*to*causa%on*! • discuss*the*following*special*aspects*of*legal*causa%on:*! o the*thin*skull*rule! o medical*treatment! o encouragement*of*suicide*

Reading Materials (TEXTBOOK) Snyman*79*–*94! Mokgethi 1990*(1)*SA*32*(A)! Counter 2003*(1)*SACR*143*(SCA)! Ramosunya 2000*(2)*SACR*257*(T)! Tembani 2007(1)*SACR*355*(SCA)! Van Heerden 2010*(1)*SACR*529*(ECP)! Minister of Safety and Security v Venter 2011*(2)*SACR*67*(SCA)! Seemela 2016*(2)*SACR*125*(SCA)! Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others v Estate Late James Stransham-Ford and Others 2017*(1)*All*SA*354*(SCA)! Maqubela 2017*(2)*SACR*690*(SCA)*

Causation= Element number 3 in Criminal Liability 2 parts to it: 1 Factual Causation, 2 Legal Causation

Introduc)on* To*understand*Causa%on*as*an*element/*we*need*to*understand*what*it*is*as*an*element?** In*order*to*do*that,*there*are*certain*assump%ons*we*need*to*have:** • X*has*acted** • X*conduct*is*unlawful*******(linked*to*the*first*2*elements)* • Then*we*need*to*ask*the*ques%on:*Did*the*conduct*of*X*cause*the*unlawful*result*concerned?** • In*other*words:*Was*there*a*causal*nexus*(link)*between*X’s*conduct*and*the*unlawful*result?* • We*need*to*answer*in*the*Affirma%ve*in*order*to*sa%sfy*the*element*of*causa%on.** Is*there*a*causal*nexus*between*X’s*conduct*and*the*unlawful*result?* Defini)on:* *‘In*a*consequence*crime*(materially*defined*crimes),*there*is**causal*nexus*between*the*unlawful* conduct*and*the*unlawful*result*if*the*unlawful*conduct*is*both*the*factual*and*legal*cause*of*the* unlawful*result’* 3*aspects*–* * * * *

1.*consequence*crime*(materially*defined*crime*must*be*present)** 2.*factual*causa%on* 3.*legal*causa%on*

• conduct*crimes/*formally*defined*crimes?*crime*is*in*the*conduct*itself*(the*opposite*of* consequence*crimes)* \ Eg:*rape;*possession*of*drugs;*perjury** \ Eg*Rape:*it*is*the*non\consensual*sexual*penetra%on*etc* \ X’s*liability*in*this*case*is*based*exclusively*on*X’s*conduct.** \ The*consequences*of*rape*are*irrelevant*for*purposes*of*liability*ito*criminal*law.** \ If*we*ask:*Did*X*rape*V,*and*answer*Yes=*X*will*be*criminally*liable.** **

• *consequence*crimes/*materially*defined*crimes?*(opposite*of*conduct*crimes)* Crime*is*not*in*the*conduct*itself,*but*the*outcome*of*what*X*has*done*(in*the*consequence)* \ criminal*offences*relate*to*the*crime*being*in*the*consequence*of*the*conduct*itself.** \ X’s*liability*is*based*exclusively*on*the*consequence*of*X’s*conduct* Eg:*murder*or*culpable*homicide** \ Murder*example:*Did*X’s*conduct*result*in*V’s*death?*If*yes,*then*X*is*guilty*murder* \ How*X*killed*V*is*irrelevant*in*establishing*liability*(we*are*not*concerned*about*How*X*killed*V,* maybe*only*when*sentencing*is*concerned).* General*rule:* Causa%on*is*only*concerned*with*the*element*of*consequence*crimes*(not*concerned*with*conduct* crimes)* \ Eg*dealing*with*rape*in*court*(conduct*crime)\*causa%on*wont*be*concerned*in*proving,*move*on* \ If*dealing*with*murder\*can*ask*whether*it*was*the*consequence*of*X’s*conduct**

Factual*and*Legal*causa)on* So*we*know*that*both*of*these*need*to*exist/*need*to*be*sa%sfied*in*order*to*sa%sfy*the*element*of* causa%on.*Thus,*we*need*to*understand*what*they*are,*what*their*respec%ve*tests*are*and*how*the* operate*in*order*to*know*how*to*sa%sfy*them*correctly.** \ Existence*of*only*one=*not*sufficient,*causa%on*element*wont*be*sa%sfied** \ if*we*cannot*sa%sfy*factual*causa%on,*it*means*we*do*not*need*to*move*on*to*legal*causa%on* \ as*we*would*already*know*that*no*causa%on*exists** \ If*only*factual*causa%on*is*sa%sfied,*not*legal=*No*causa%on*(element*not*sa%sfied)** \ The*enquiry*always*starts*with*factual*causa%on**

• A*Causal*Nexus*is*made*up*of*2*types*of*causa)on:* 1. factual*causa%on:*causal*nexus*in*fact* 2. legal*causa%on:*causal*nexus*in*law* =*factual*causa%on*+*legal*causa%on*required=*sa%sfy*element*of*causa%on*

Test*for*Factual*Causa)on:*‘butKfor’*test* Test*is*used*to*establish*whether*or*not*X’s*conduct*is*the*factual*cause*of*the*unlawful*result*(iow:* whether*or*not*there*is*a*factual*causal*nexus*between*the*conduct*and*the*result)* • The*way*in*which*we*ask*ourselves*or*apply*the*test:**“But\for”*X’s*conduct,*would*the*unlawful* result*have*happened.** • Either*we*use*a*hypothe)cal*elimina)on*(for*Sine*qua*non)* • Or*we*use*a*hypothe)cal*addi)on*(for*Cum*qua*non)* Two*versions:* condi&o'sine'qua'non'='relates*to*Commissions*(posi%ve*acts)* condi&o'cum'qua'non='relates*to*Omissions*(failure*to*act)**

1. Version*1.'Condi&o'sine'qua'non'test:* Deals*with*:*commissions*(act)*=*posi%ve*act* Ques%on*is*phrased*as:*“condi%on*without*which*not”* How*it*does*this:*hypothe%cal*elimina%on* “Was*the*conduct*of*X*the*condi%on*without*which*the*result*would*not*have*happened?”* Lets*eliminate*X’s*conduct*and*see*if*the*same*result*would*have*occurred* \ Does*the*unlawful*result*disappear*iF*it*were*not*for*X’s*conduct?*/*Was*X’s*conduct*Required?** \ If*YES:*means*that*X’s*conduct*was*in*fact*the*cause*of*the*result** \ If*NO:*X’s*conduct*was*not*the*factual*cause*of*the*result.** Example*illustra%ng*this:* X*punches*Y*in*the*face.*Y*falls*to*the*ground,*Y*knocks*his*head.*Y*gets*a*head*injury*that*causes*a* haemorrhage,*and*this*results*in*the*death*of*Y.** \ If*we*eliminate*X’s*conduct*of*hinng*Y*in*the*face,*would*Y*have*died?** \ if*X*didn't*hit*Y,*would*Y*have*no*fallen?*No** \ Would*Y*have*hit*his*head?*No** \ Thus*the*unlawful*result*would*not*have*occurred.** \ Therefore,*X’s*conduct*was*the*factual*cause*of*Y’s*death.**

Makali'1950(1)*SA*340*(N)* • Here*X*apacked*V*with*a*knife.*The*knife*slashed*V’s*leq*wrist,*because*his*wrists*were*slashed* he*lost*a*lot*of*blood,*and*had*to*go*to*hospital.*At*hospital,*V*complained*of*a*pain*across*his* chest,*and*V*later*died.** • The*Dr*who*treated*V*said*the*cause*of*death*was*a*heart*apack.** • Court*had*to*decide*whether*X’s*assault*by*slashing*V’s*wrists*with*a*knife*was*the*factual*cause* of*V’s*death.** • Court*applied*the*“Sine*qua*non”*test.** • Court*held:*V*would*not*have*died*“but\for”*X’s*conduct*(the*result*of*V*having*heart*apack* would*not*have*happened*if*it*were*not*for*the*conduct*of*X).** • Thus,*X’s*conduct*WAS*REQUIRED*FOR*THE*DEATH*OF*V** • Therefore,*X*was*the*factual*cause*of*V’s*death.**

2.'Version*2.*Condi&o'cum'qua'non:'' Deals*with*:*omissions*(*failure*to*act)* Ques%on*phrased*as:*“condi%on*with*which”* How*it*does*this:*hypothe%cal*addi%on* “Was*X’s*omission*the*condi%on*with*which*the*unlawful*result*would*not*have*happened?”* \ Would*the*unlawful*result*disappear*if*conduct*on*the*part*of*X*were*to*be*different** \ Was*the*omission*required*for*the*result*to*occur** \ If*X*had*acted,*would*the*result*be*different?** Examples*illustra%ng*how*the*courts*have*applied*this:*

Minister'of'Police'v'Skosana'1977*(1)*SA*319*(A)* Skosana*was*arrested*for*drunken*driving,*and*caused*an*accident.*He*was*placed*in*a*cell.*He*later* complained*to*the*police*about*having*abdominal*pain.*Eventually,*but*not*immediately,*the*police* took*him*to*hospital*(aqer*long*delays).*He*got*to*hospital*and*had*to*undergo*immediate* emergency*surgery,*but*later*died.** ! His*wife*then*sued*the*Minister*of*Police*(Delictual*claim)\*claiming*that*her*husbands*death*was* caused*by*the*police’s*omission*to/*failure*to*take*him*to*hospital*on*%me.** ! If*they*took*him*to*hospital*sooner,*he*would*not*have*died.** ! Court*applied*the*cum*qua*non*test:*“Added”\*assumed*he*went*to*hospital*on*%me* ! Answer*was*Yes:*but*for*the*delay,*he*would*have*survived.** ! The*court*found*in*favour*of*the*wife,*that*the*police*were*responsible*for*the*omission.**

Van'Heerdan'2010'(1)'SACR'539'(ECP)'' X#was#an#abstrotdcian#and#gynaecologist,#who#performed#a#surgery#(hysterectomy)#on#V.#The# surgery#was#successful,#and#V#was#placed#in#the#recovery#unit.#However,#later#V’s#nurse#saw#that# her#blood#pressure#was#very#low,#and#her#heart#rate#was#very#high,#and#she#had#possible#signs#of# shock#caused#by#internal#bleeding.## ! Surgeon#was#not#at#hospital#at#the#Cme,#he#was#aDending#to#another##paCent.## ! The#nurse#phoned#to#tell#him.#He#did#not#return#to#hospital#immediately,#but#gave#the#nurse# instrucCons#on#how#to#deal#with#it.## ! The#instrucCons#he#gave#the#nurse#did#not#work!#V#died.## ! Surgeon#was#charged#with#culpable#homicide.## ! Did#his#omission#cause#V’s#death?#/#Whether#his#failure#to#go#to#hospital#immediately#caused#her# death?## ! Applied#the#cum#qua#non#test# ! Conclusion:#V#would#not#have#died#but#for#X’s#omission#and#thus#X#was#found#guilty.*

Ambit*of*Factual*Causa)on:* oqen*more*than*one*factual*cause*of*unlawful*result* Example:*X*shoots*v*to*death*with*a*gun* Possible*cause*of*V’s*death* X’s*conduct* conduct*of*A,*B,*C,*D*and*E* conduct*of*X’s*parents* conduct*of*X’s*grandparents* conduct*of*Adam*and*Eve* Legal*causa%on*=*limits*ambit*of*factual*causa%on* Test*for*legal*causa%on* *=*public*policy*test* reasonable,*just*and*fair* confirmed*in*Mokgethi*1990*(1)*SA*32*(A)* Seemela'2016*(2)*SACR*125*(SCA)*

Applying*the*Test*of*Public*Policy* Two*ways*of*doing*so:* novus#actus#method* adequate*cause*method* 1.*Novus'Actus'Method* Novus#actus#interveniens## abnormal*event* comes*between*X’s*conduct*and*the*unlawful*result/s** breaks*the*chain*** ** NA*=*‘an*event*which*is,*in*the*context*of*the*act*that*was*commiped,*abnormal*and*completely* independent*of*the*acts*of*the*accused’* Rule:*presence*of*NA*=*absence*of*LC* Q:**what*is*the*criterion*for*abnormality*?## Mbambo*1965*(2)*SA*843*(A)* * * 2.*Adequate*Cause*Method* *=*good*enough*/*sufficient** ** Rule:**presence*of*adequate*cause*=*presence*of*LC*

criterion*of*adequacy*=*general*human*experience* Snyman:*‘an*act*is*a*LC*of*a*situa%on*if,*according*to*human*experience,*in*a*normal*cause*of* events,*the*act*has*the*tendency*to*bring*about*that*type*of*situa%on’* Loubser*1953*(2)*PH*H190*(W)* Public*Policy*+*Flexibility* true*test*for*LC*=*public*policy* NA*and*AC*instruments*of*public*policy** no*theories*appropriate* LC*solely*on*basis*of*public*policy* *Daniels*1983*(3)*SA*275*(A)* Minister'of'Safety'&'Security'v'Venter'2011*(2)*SACR*67*(SCA)* Special*Aspects*of*Legal*Causa)on* Special*rules* 3*special*rules:* Thin*skull*rule* Medical*treatment* Encouragement*of*suicide* Special*aspects*inves%gated:* 1.*FC*→*CSQN*or*CCQN* 2.*LC*→*special*rules*

1.*Thin*skull*rule*=*talem'qualem'rule** abnormal*physiological*condi%ons* thin*skull*expresses*public*policy* dictum:*Take#the#vicCm#as#you#find#him/#her# Wilson#v#Birt#(PTY)#Ltd#1963*(2)*SA*508*(D)* McKechnie#(1992)*94*Cr.*App.*R.*51*

2.*Encouragement*of*Suicide* X*either:* ** *

1.*encourages*V*to*commit*suicide*or* 2.*provides*means*to*commit*suicide*

ex#parte#Min#van#JusCsie:#re#S#v#Grotjohn#1970*(2)*SA*355*(A)* SCA*was*ansked*the*following*ques%ons:* 1.*is*encouraging/*assis%ng*to*commit*suicide*a*crime?* 2.*if*yes,*which*crime?* euthanasia*not*allowed*in*our*law*

ex#parte#Min#van#JusCsie:#re#S#v#Grotjohn#1970*(2)*SA*355*(A)* Minister#of#JusCce#and#CorrecConal#Services#and#Others#v#Estate#Late#James#Stransham!Ford#and# Others#2017*(1)*All*SA*354*(SCA)*

3.*Medical*treatment* 2*catergories:* conduct*of*medical*staff* conduct*of*vic%m* Conduct*of*medical*staff:* Bona#fide#medical*interven%on* basic*rule:*bona#fide#medical*interven%on*not*a*novus#actus#

Nature*of*wounds:*fatal*/*non*fatal* Fatal*injuries*–*bona#fide#never*NA* non*fatal*injuries*\**wrong*treatment*in*good*faith* not*a*novus#actus#* two*causes** both*doctor*and*X*liable** Mala'fide'medical*interven)on* basic*rule*mala#fide!#wrong*treatment*can*be*a*novus#actus* Nature*of*wounds:* V’s*injuries*fatal** two*causes*for*V’s*death** non*fatal*injuries*–*mala#fide#is*a*novus#actus#

Counter#2003*(1)*SACR*143*(SCA)* Tembani#2007*(1)*SACR*355*(SCA)*

Conduct*of*Vic)m* 2*things*can*happen* V*decides*not*to*obtain*medical*treatment*or* V*obtains*medical*treatment*but*fails*to*follow*medical*advice* V*then*dies* Q:*did*X*cause*V’s*death*

Or*V’s*own*conduct*=*novus#actus# Mokgethi#1990**(1)*SA*32(A)* Refusal*of*medical*treatment* V*requires*medical*treatment*in*order*to*survive*but*refuses*to**undergo*medical*treatment*

only*opinions*of*writers*

Blaue#{1975}*3*AER*446*...