Self-Defence: Under s76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, you can use force in self-defence if it was reasonable in the circumstances as you believed them to be. This blends a subjective element (your own perception of the threat) with an objective requirement (whether a reasonable person would agree). However, if you provoked the confrontation, then the defence is unavailable. In the case of R v Keane [2010] EWCA 2514, D, who had acted aggressively and taunted a bystander, couldn’t rely on self-defence when D then punched them as he was the initial aggressor. The law also distinguishes between domestic and non-domestic settings. Outside the home, force must not be disproportionate, but inside it (under s76(5A) and s76(6)), it must not be grossly disproportionate. This higher threshold reflects the special importance of personal safety inside your own home. Do you think this distinction is justified?

Loss of Control and Diminished Responsibility: These are both partial defences. Under s54(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, loss of control applies where a defendant lost control due to a ‘qualifying trigger’ (fear or anger) and a person of the defendant’s age and sex with normal restraint would have reacted similarly. Under s2 of the Homicide Act 1957, diminished responsibility applies where D suffered an abnormality of mental function arising from a recognised medical condition that substantially impaired their ability to understand the nature of their conduct, form rational judgement, and/or exercise self-control. Both defences recognise that human behaviour is not always rational, but they stop short of a full acquittal. Do you think they should go further?

Capacity: Not everyone who causes harm acts with full culpability. England and Wales set the minimum age of criminal responsibility at 10 years old (Children and Young Persons Act 1933), which is on the lower end in the western world. The subsequent removal of the doli incapax (or ‘incapable of wrongdoing’) rebuttable presumption for children aged 10-14 by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 draws a rigid line where developmental maturity demands flexibility. Intoxication, on the other hand, is more nuanced. Following DPP v Majewski [1977] AC 443, voluntary intoxication cannot excuse crimes of basic intent (where the act is itself enough to establish guilt, e.g. manslaughter), but it can excuse crimes of specific intent (where there must be a specific intent to reach a certain outcome, e.g. murder). Another facet of capacity is insanity, the rules for which were established in M’Naghten [1843] UKHL J16. A defendant must show a defect of reason caused by a ‘disease of the mind’, creating an inability to understand both the nature of their actions and that they are legally wrongful (not merely morally wrongful). Referring to insanity as a "disease of the mind" does not reflect modern psychiatric language and fails to distinguish between mental illnesses and biological illnesses (e.g. a brain tumour). How do you think this test could be improved?

Understanding the Development (and Surprising Deficiencies) of England's Storied Self-Defense Law

Self-Defence in the UK: Reasonable Force and Your Rights

Psychiatric expert evidence and the new partial defences of diminished responsibility and loss of control

Neuroscience and the insanity defense: Trying to put a round peg in a square hole

Effective Legal Defenses in UK Criminal Law Practice

The Logic and Value of the Presumption of Doli Incapax (Failing That, an Incapacity Defence)

👥 Citizen Science: What if anyone, from backyard birdwatchers to online volunteers, could help advance real scientific research? This article explores the world of citizen science, where the public collaborates with researchers to collect data, monitor wildlife, and even analyse galaxies, all thanks to modern technology and shared curiosity. A fascinating read for anyone interested in Ecology or Geography!

🍄 Fungi as Architects: This article explores how scientists are using fungal networks like Schizophyllum commune to create self-healing, sustainable building materials that could transform architecture. Blending biology with design, it reveals a future where structures are adaptive, low-waste, and deeply connected to the natural world. A must-read for anyone interested in Architecture or Biology!

🧩 Mathematics of Board Games: Ever wondered why you can “solve” tic-tac-toe but not chess? In this lecture, Professor Sarah Hart explores the maths behind board games, revealing how concepts like state-space and game tree complexity explain why some games are simple and others staggeringly complex. Great if you’re curious about Mathematics or Game Theory!

Wednesday 13th May

Thursday 14th May