判决理由
The doctrine of transferred malice: where the defendant intends to harm one person but accidentally harms another, the mens rea is transferred to the actual victim.
事实
Latimer aimed a blow with his belt at a man in a pub. The belt bounced off and struck a woman standing nearby, causing serious injury.
判决摘要
The court held that Latimer was guilty of unlawfully wounding the woman. His intention to strike the man was transferred to the woman actually injured.
关键引述
"The prisoner must be held liable for the consequences of his act, even though those consequences were not intended by him."
— Lord Coleridge CJ
后续处理
Good law
The classic authority on transferred malice. Confirmed in AG's Reference (No 3 of 1994) [1998].