Beaver Decision

Definition of Beaver Decision

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Beaver Decision: In this case, regarding an alleged crime of drug trafficking, the Supreme Court of Canada decided that the test of mens rea (criminal intent) could be, to some extent, subjective. It did not have to depend on what a reasonable citizen might have thought or intended in the situation, but could take into account whether the particular defendant had a mistaken, but reasonable and honest belief, that they were not committing a crime.

Beaver Decision: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Beaver Decision. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada