The legal case A-G’s Reference No. 3 of 1992 investigates important elements of criminal law related to intention and recklessness in the context of attempted aggravated arson. This summary examines the key concepts of the case that are necessary for law students.

  • In the case of A-G’s Reference No. 3 of 1992 [1994] 1 WLR 409, it was ruled out that there was no need to establish specific intent as a state of mens rea over recklessness for a crime involving an attempt to cause aggravated arson.
  • S.1(2) of the Criminal Defence Act 1971 provides that ‘A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another intending to destroy or damage any such property or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence.’
  • Under s.1(2) of the Criminal Defence Act 1971, ‘A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property, whether belonging to himself or another (a) intending to destroy or damage any property or being reckless as to whether any property would be destroyed or damaged; and (b)intending by the destruction or damage to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered shall be guilty of an offence.’

Facts of the Case in A-G’s Reference No. 3

  • The four Ds (the respondents) were driving a vehicle and threw a lighted petrol bomb out of it
  • The bomb was thrown at a car park next to the pavement and there were people standing on it
  • The bomb hit a garden wall adjoining the pavement, having passed over the car
  • s.1 of the Criminal Defence Act 1971 was used in the trial on two counts of attempted aggravated arson (intending to endanger life and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered)
  • Initially, the judge ruled that there was a lack of evidence for the jury to find an intent to endanger life and that the true interpretation of the Criminal Defence Act 1971 required specific intent, as opposed to recklessness
  • D was acquitted in the first instance

Issues in A-G’s Reference No. 3 of 1992 [1994] 1 WLR 409

  • The Attorney-General’s reference to the court was on a point of sufficiency to prove D’s recklessness and whether life would be endangered, given what s.1(2) of the Criminal Defence Act 1971 provided for the contemplation of an aggravated arson, plus D’s specific intent to cause damage by fire

Held by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

  • Held – the substantive crime under s.1(2) of the Criminal Defence Act 1971 was committed and the prosecution needed to establish an attempt to commit this offence in a stage of mind that was more than merely preparatory – this would amount to intent to damage the property
  • Held – it was unnecessary to prove intent over recklessness if the prosecution could prove D intended to supply the missing physical element of the full offence
  • Held – refusal to advance the application under section 36(3) of Criminal Justice Act 1972 to the House of Lords

Judgment of Lord Taylor of Gosforth C.J., Schiemann and Wright JJ

The judges concluded that there is no need for a graver mental state than is required for the full offence.

  • The panel decided to refrain from further examination of the element of fire in the case: ‘[…] it has not been submitted that the presence or absence of fire makes any difference to the answer to the question posed which applies to any form of attempted criminal damage. So we omit any further reference to the element of fire in this judgment.’ [at p.416]
  • The panel followed Reg. v Millard and Vernon [1987] to illustrate how convictions can be quashed if mere recklessness is insufficient in a case involving the attempted damage of property [at p.417]
  • The panel further commented that ‘in circumstances where the first named property is not the same as the second named property, in addition to establishing a specific intent to cause damage by fire to the first named property, it is sufficient to prove that the defendant was reckless as to whether any second named property was damaged and reckless as to whether the life of another would be endangered by the damage to the second named property.’ [at p.420]

Significance of the Case in Legal Development

The significance of A-G’s Reference No. 3 of 1992 in the legal landscape is underscored by its implications on the application of mens rea in criminal law. This case is crucial in understanding the thresholds for criminal liability concerning the intent required for different types of crimes. Several key cases were influenced by or can be analyzed in conjunction with this decision:

  1. R v Cunningham [1957] 2 QB 396: This case is significant for establishing the recklessness standard in English law, particularly in understanding mens rea involving foreseeing the risk.
  2. R v G [2003] 4 All ER 765: This later case revisited the concepts of recklessness and intent, refining the legal standards post the 1992 reference.
  3. R v Woollin [1999] 1 AC 82: Here, the court further explored the boundaries of intention, specifically in serious crimes, providing a necessary backdrop to interpret the thresholds established in A-G’s Reference.

Exam Questions and Answers

Below you will find the most common questions and answers based on this case.

What are the potential challenges in applying this ruling to modern cyber-related property damages where intent and recklessness can be murky?

Modern crimes involving cyber-related property damage present unique challenges in establishing intent and recklessness. The digital nature of these crimes can obscure the perpetrator’s mental state, making it more difficult to apply traditional concepts of recklessness and intent developed in physical property damage cases.

How does this ruling influence the prosecutorial thresholds in cases involving complex scenarios of joint enterprise?

This ruling could heighten the prosecutorial thresholds in joint enterprise cases by necessitating clearer evidence of individual intent or recklessness. It emphasizes the need for each participant’s role and mental state to be distinctly proven, potentially complicating prosecutions in collaborative criminal activities.

Could this precedent have implications for legislative amendments to the Criminal Damage Act 1971 in the future?

The precedent set by A-G’s Reference No. 3 of 1992 could drive legislative amendments to the Criminal Damage Act 1971 to clarify and possibly expand the definitions of intent and recklessness, especially in adapting to modern forms of property damage and technological advancements. Such changes could aim to better capture the nuances of contemporary crimes and ensure legal definitions remain effective and applicable.

Study Law in the UK

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.