Bob runs a grocery shop in a small town Until recently, this was the only grocery shop in the town: Criminal law Assignment, MU, Ireland

Question 1

Bob runs a grocery shop in a small town. Until recently, this was the only grocery shop in the town, but then Jack and Jill arrived in the locality and opened up another grocery shop nearby. This had an adverse effect on Bob’s business. In the early hours of a Sunday morning, Bob goes to the premises owned by Jack and Jill, enters it at ground floor level by a back window and sets fire to it.

The premises is destroyed and, unfortunately, Jack and Jill, who are sleeping upstairs, die in the blaze. Bob claims that he had been told by neighbors that Jack and Jill always went to visit Jill’s parents on Saturday evenings and that they did not usually return home until the following day. He admits that he intended to destroy the shop, but claims that he genuinely believed that the building was uninhabited at the time. Bob has now been charged with the murder of Jack and Jill.

Advise Bob as to whether he is likely to be convicted of murder in these circumstances, discussing relevant legal principles and case law in your answer.

Question 2 Critically discuss the actus reus and men’s rea of possession in criminal law.