To be liable for an offence, the accused must have committed the Actus Reus of that offence with the requisite Mens Rea, and no defence must be available to him; R v. Taafe (1983).

... To be liable for an offence, the accused must have committed the Actus Reus of that offence with the requisite Mens Rea, and no defence must be available to him; R v. Taafe (1983). There are a number of issues involved in the question (including homicide, inchoate offence and non-fatal offence), liability for which should be awarded separately to each person. The Criminal Justice Act (1987), s.12 states conspiracy to be where (a) a person agrees with any other person or persons that a course of conduct shall be punished; and (b) that course of conduct will necessarily amount to or involve the commission of any agreement if the agreement is carried out in accordance with their intentions. In the case of Albert, Carl, Maurice and Graham, all four, as the question suggests, conspired to steal and to administer noxious substance. For this they will be charged under section 9 of the Theft

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