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Attempting the impossible: Recent developments in the House of Lords

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References

  1. [1986] 2 W.L.R. 988.

  2. [1975] A.C. 476.

  3. SeePartington v. Williams [1976] 62 Cr.App.Rep. 220.

  4. An offence, subject to certain exceptions, under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, s.6(3).

  5. See J. C. Smith and B. Hogan,Criminal Law, Butterworths, 5th ed., 1983, 265,. There are also numerous other popular examples.

  6. Supra n.1.

  7. [1985] 2 W.L.R. 968.

  8. A conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal, [1985] 1 All E.R. 143. He subsequently appealed to the House of Lords.

  9. [1986] 2 W.L.R. 988, 998.

  10. Ibid. at 999.

  11. [1985] 2 W.L.R. 968, 982.

  12. Ibid. at 972.

  13. Supra n.7 at 972.

  14. The influence of strong academic argument should clearly not be overlooked, e.g. Professor J.C. Smith's commentary [1985]Crim. L.R. 504; Professor Glanville Williams, ‘The Lords and Impossible Attempts, or Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?’ [1986]C.L.J. 33.

  15. [1985] 2 W.L.R. 968, 982–3.

  16. [1986] 2 W.L.R. 988, 1000–1.

  17. Ibid. at 1000.

  18. Law Commission Report (Criminal Law: Attempt and Impossibility in Relation to Attempt, Conspiracy and Incitement (1980) (Law Commission No. 102)).

  19. Ibid. para. 2.97.

  20. Supra n.14.

  21. Ibid. at 507.

  22. Thus there would be no substantive offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, S.1(1).

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Selfe, D.W. Attempting the impossible: Recent developments in the House of Lords. Liverpool Law Rev 9, 69–80 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01207250

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