Theoretical Underpinnings of the Doctrine of Transferred Malice

• Authors: Sitnik, Piotr

Abstracts

EN

Mistaken identity and bad aim have been traditionally accepted as the two textbook situations where the doctrine of transferred malice has found application. By reference to a cross-section of academic sources as well as case law from a number of common law jurisdictions, three core elements of transferred malice are identified: the intent of the defendant, the consequence that befalls the unintended victim, and public intuitions with regard to resulting harm. The overarching conclusion of the considerations consists in reaffirming the role of factual contingencies in deciding cases as well as the existence of a significant policy element which has caused, the paper submits, judges to subsume under the umbrella term of transferred malice cases which could satisfactorily be explained by means of other legal concepts, most notably remoteness, foreseeability or negligence.

Keywords

EN

transferred malice; aberratio ictus; mens rea; intent; attempt

• Publisher: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
• Journal: Studia Iuridica
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 67
• Pages: 115-129

Contributors

author

Sitnik, Piotr