Kembaraxtra-Case Law- Attempted Murder: White (1910) CA

Case Summary

• Case: White (1910) CA
• Facts: The defendant (D) attempted to murder his mother by poisoning her. However, the amount of poison administered was insufficient to cause death.
• Outcome: D's conviction for attempted murder was upheld.

Legal Principle

• Key Concept: An attempt to murder is committed when a series of acts, intended by the perpetrator to result in a killing, is completed.
• Crucial Point: This holds true even if the completed act, without further actions, would not have led to the victim's death.
• Source: Bray J's statement in White (1910) CA.

Explanation

The case establishes that for attempted murder, the focus is on the defendant's intention and the completion of acts that align with that intention, rather than the ultimate success or immediate lethality of those acts. If the defendant has performed all the acts they intended to perform as part of their plan to kill, and those acts are geared towards causing death, an attempt has occurred. The fact that the chosen method or quantity was insufficient to cause death in that instance does not negate the attempt.