Advise Bo on the charge he may face in relation to the death of Marcus.

Assessment Instructions: Portfolio B

This piece of work is an individual submission and should therefore represent one student’s work. There are four parts to the portfolio and each part has its own formatting requirements, instructions, layout and content. Details pertaining to the plan, annotated bibliography and reflective writing can be found within subsidiary documentation that can be found on Blackboard, within the Assignments section:

1. Plan:

  • Refer to Plan: Portfolio B
  • No word limit; 1 A4 sheet

2. Problem Question:

  • For Problem Question Scenario, see below, p 2
  • Word limit: 1200 words maximum

3. Annotated Bibliography:

  • Refer to Annotated Bibliography: Portfolio B1
  • Word limit: 200 words maximum

4. Reflective Writing:

  • Refer to Reflective Writing: Portfolio B1
  • Word limit: 400 words maximum

The above pieces of work should be submitted as one document, with each piece of work beginning on a new page and in the order that they are listed above.

Problem Question Scenario: Portfolio B

Jake and Zak are both senior executives within a large financial organisation and, having met through work, became friends and house share. Despite being quite high up in the organisation (or perhaps due to the stress of their positions) they both use drugs for recreational purposes.  Neither of them would consider themselves drug addicts, but both would probably find it hard to give it up completely.

On the evening in question, Zak gets hold of some drugs that are ‘a bit special’ as they are celebrating that Jake has been successful in signing up a big new client and has received much praise and commendation at work. As Zak hands over the little packet to Jake, he tells him that this is ‘the good stuff’ and that he has earned it. Jake self-injects, but later starts to look unwell. Zak thinks that Jake may have had ‘too much’ and wants to get some medical help but Jake is adamant that he doesn’t want Zak to call for an ambulance as, if it comes out at work that they have been taking drugs, they would both lose their jobs. So, Zak looks up information on the internet about drug overdoses and finds a blog that gives helpful advice. Zak follows the directions as to what to do and Jake starts to look and feel better.

Once they are both satisfied that the worst of the situation is over, the friends take a walk around the garden to get some fresh air and then say goodnight and go to their own rooms. However, in the morning, when Zak goes to wake Jake up, he finds him in a comatose state. Zak calls 999 and Jake is taken urgently to hospital, where he is treated for a drugs overdose and placed on life support machinery. Unfortunately, after a long process of medical testing it is found that nothing can be done to save Jake and the life support is withdrawn. It transpires that had Zak sought medical assistance when Jake was first showing symptoms of overdosing, he could have been saved and would not have died.

Advise Zak on the charge he may face in relation to the death of Jake.

 

Recorded guidance on this assessment can be found in the relevant folder on Blackboard, within the ‘first sit’ Assignments section.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the major concepts, values and principles of the English criminal legal system.
  • Understand the importance of primary and secondary sources of law and develop an understanding of their use, including contextual materials, to support the making of legal arguments.
  • Communicate effectively in a written format, using appropriate legal terminology for the audience and making use of relevant data derived from primary sources when necessary.
  • Identify and critically engage with relevant materials and information, evaluating legal arguments and material drawn from a range of appropriate sources.
  • Conduct searches efficiently and effectively and access and reference appropriate legal and contextual materials.
  • Work independently to accomplish a defined outcome and reflect upon their own experience in order to formulate appropriate strategies for future progress.