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**Abstain**

to choose not to do something.

**Archaic**

outdated or old fashioned.

**Avert**

to prevent

**Conduct**

a person's manner of behaviour.

**Controversial**

something that divides opinion, causing much discussion or disagreement.

**Criminal law**

the branch of law concerned with criminal offences.

**Criminal insanity**

a defence to criminal charges based on the idea that the defendant was unable to understand what they was doing, or, that they was unable to understand that what they was doing was wrong.

**Defence**

the case presented by or on behalf of the person accused of a crime.

**Defendant**

the person accused of a crime in the court of law

**Discrepancy**

an inconsistency or disagreement of facts.

**Duty to act**

a legal or moral requirement to take a certain action.

**House of Lords** 

the second chamber of the UK Parliament that checks and challenges laws from the House of Commons.

**Insanity**

referring to the state of being severely mentally ill.

**Intention**

the plan or particular purpose of an action.

**Intoxication**

having your mental and/or physical state significantly affected by drugs or alcohol

**Legal Liability**

to be legally responsible for something.

**Motive**

the reason for doing something

**Negate**

to make something ineffective.

**Omission**

something neglected, left out or not done. 

**Psychiatric insanity**

mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct their affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behaviour.

**Reckless**

not caring about the dangers or consequences of your actions.

**Strict liability crimes**

crimes that do not require a mens rea (being in the mental state to commit a crime) during the commission of a crime.