R v Byram [2008]

Key Points To Note

• What if the defendant (D) laid the tip of a needle against the skin of the victim (V) over a vein.

• And V ultimately pressed the plunger, injecting the substance.

• The key point established was that D is not automatically acquitted just because V pressed the plunger.

2. Impact and Analysis:

• Causation and Responsibility: This case highlights the complexity of determining causation and responsibility in drug administration cases. It emphasises that merely the act of the victim pressing the plunger does not absolve the defendant of liability.

• Joint Responsibility: The decision suggests that if the defendant plays a substantial role in the preparation or facilitation of the act, they may still be held liable, even if the victim completes the final act.