Koani v The Queen

Criminal law – Murder and manslaughter – Act causing death – Where appellant convicted of murder – Where death occasioned by discharge of shotgun held by appellant – Where alternative prosecution case for murder put to jury on basis that shotgun may have discharged as result of unwilled act – Whether unwilled, criminally negligent act or omission can result in conviction for murder where jury satisfied accused possessed intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm – Whether breach of duty to use reasonable care and to take reasonable precautions in use and management of dangerous thing can found conviction of murder.

Words and phrases – "act causing death", "breach of duty", "criminally negligent", "intention", "intentional offence", "manslaughter", "murder", "omission", "reasonable care", "unwilled act".

Criminal Code (Q) – ss 289, 302(1)(a).