A fun task for law students at the end of the semester. How many crimes can you make out that Santa may commit on Christmas Eve?

1. Prosecuting Santa Claus
For crimes known under the
Criminal Law of Scotland

2. The Indictment
In the matter between
HM Advocate
v
Santa Claus
You Santa Claus or Father Christmas or Nick
(the Saint) Wenceslas, are indicted at the
instance of Ebenezer Scrooge, Her Majesty’s
Advocate, and the charges against you are that
on 24th December 2015, or thereabouts…
• 1. You did…
• 2. You did…
• 3. You did…

3. Team challenge
• Teams of 4
• Access to Westlaw
• Textbook or online resource
• Compile list of possible criminal offences
• Detail AR and MR for each
• Return with a list of 10 maximum
• Nominate a team prosecutor with an assistant
• Also provide a team juror and a public defender

4. Points calculation
Upheld by Jury
• Unique – 10 points
• Two groups – 5 points
• Multiple groups – 2 points
Dismissed by Jury
• Unique – minus 5 points
• Multiple groups – minus 2
points

5. Role of Prosecutors
• Present briefly:
– Name of crime (cite statute where applicable)
– Locus of crime and define the Actus Reus
– Lead evidence of the Mens Rea

6. Role of Public Defenders
• State briefly:
– Objections to name or definition of crime
– Reasons for insufficient evidence
– Any defences that are applicable

7. Role of Jurors
• Conclude:
– Whether crime is known to Scots Law
– Deliver verdict of guilty, not guilty or not proven

8. Timetable
• 2:00 – 2:15 Introduction
• 2:15 – 3:15 Research and discussion time
• 3:15 – 3:45 Presentations and points allocated
• Points mean prizes!