Criminal Law Case Study: Duty of Care, Negligence and Liability

The assignment presents a case study involving a mother, Wendy, and her child, Ben, who drowns in a lake. The scenario explores the concept of duty of care and negligence in criminal law. Wendy is deemed liable for the death of her child due to her breach of duty of care, as she was responsible for her child's safety. The case also considers the actions of Mike, who witnessed the situation but did not intervene, and the assignment analyzes whether he can be held liable. The assignment concludes that Mike is not liable because he had no pre-existing relationship or contractual obligation to Ben. The case utilizes the Gibbons and Proctor case to support the argument of breach of duty of care. The document offers an overview of criminal law and its role in maintaining societal balance, focusing on the importance of duty of care and the legal consequences of its violation.