Am I guilty of a crime if I attempted and failed?
Most criminal offences in New South Wales require the prosecution to prove a number of ‘essential elements’, or ingredients, beyond a reasonable doubt for a person to be found guilty.
For example, to establish the offence of sexual assault under section 61I of the Crimes Act 1900 the prosecution must prove that the defendant:
- Had sexual intercourse with another person;
- Did not have the other person’s consent; and
- Knew, was reckless or had no reasonable grounds to believe the other person consented.
Similarly, the offence of kidnapping under section 86 of the Crimes Act requires the prosecution to prove that the defendant:
- Took or detained a person;
- Did so without the person’s consent
- Did so with the intention of holding the person to ransom, committing a serious indictable offence or obtaining any other advantage
Clearly, the offences require a physical act to be performed – sexual intercourse in the case of sexual assault and taking or detaining a person in the case of kidnapping.
However, a ‘catch-all’ provision of the Crimes Act seeks to ensure that those who attempt to commit offences are subjected to the same maximum penalties as those who actually commit the offences.
Attempts
Section 344A of the Crimes Act 1900 provides that:
(1) Subject to this Act, any person who attempts to commit any offence for which a penalty is provided under this Act shall be liable to that penalty.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an attempt to commit an offence and the offence concerned is a serious indictable offence the person shall be deemed to have been convicted of a serious indictable offence.
The section makes clear that attempts are subject to the same penalties as though the offences had been committed, and that those who are convicted of ‘serious indictable offences’ – which are those that carry maximum penalties of at least five years in prison – are to be considered (for the purpose of any other legislation) to have been convicted of that offence.
It should be added, however, that it can often be difficult for the prosecution to prove guilt for an offence if the physical act it encompasses was never carried out.
Written by Ugur Nedim. Republished with permission of Sydney Criminal Lawyers.