Field v Regina (Rev1)

Field v Regina (Rev1)

The trial judge's directions to the jury were legally correct. The appellant's undisclosed murderous intention changed the nature of PF's act, rendering it uninformed and involuntary. The jury was properly directed to consider whether the appellant's actions were a more than minimal cause of death and whether PF's act was voluntary and informed. The appeal against conviction is dismissed.

Parties
Appellant: Benjamin Luke Field; Respondent: Regina
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
18 March 2021
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Conviction and Application for Extension of Time to Appeal Sentence
Outcome
Appeal against conviction dismissed; extension of time and leave to appeal sentence granted.
Legal Topics
Murder, Fraud, Burglary, Causation, Voluntariness, Deception, Sentencing
Criminal Law Murder Fraud Burglary Causation Voluntariness Deception Sentencing

Case Brief

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Parties

Benjamin Luke Field

Appellant

Regina

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Conviction and Application for Extension of Time to Appeal Sentence

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trial judge's directions to the jury on causation and voluntariness were legally correct in the context of murder by deception
  2. 2 Whether the appellant's undisclosed intention rendered the victim's act involuntary and broke the chain of causation
  3. 3 Whether the minimum term of the life sentence should account for time spent on remand

Ratio Decidendi

The trial judge's directions to the jury were legally correct. The appellant's undisclosed murderous intention changed the nature of PF's act, rendering it uninformed and involuntary. The jury was properly directed to consider whether the appellant's actions were a more than minimal cause of death and whether PF's act was voluntary and informed. The appeal against conviction is dismissed.

Court Disposition

Appeal against conviction dismissed; extension of time and leave to appeal sentence granted.

Orders

  • Imprisonment for life with a minimum term of 36 years.
  • Deduction of 346 days from the minimum term for time spent on remand.