LNAT Legal Reasoning 4

Question 1

In a murder trial, the defendant claims he acted in self-defense. The jury believes his account may be true. What verdict must they return?

Accepted Answer

Not guilty, because reasonable doubt exists

Answer

Where self-defense raises a reasonable doubt about guilt, the prosecution has failed to disprove it and the defendant must be acquitted.

Question 2

Which legal doctrine allows courts to look at parliamentary debates to help interpret ambiguous legislation?

Accepted Answer

The Pepper v Hart rule

Answer

Pepper v Hart [1993] allows courts to consult Hansard where legislation is ambiguous and a minister's statement clearly covers the point.

Question 3

Two parties sign a written contract that omits a term they both clearly intended to include. A court correcting this would use the remedy of:

Accepted Answer

Rectification

Answer

Rectification is the equitable remedy that rewrites a document to reflect the parties' true common intention.

Question 4

The principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' is best described as which legal concept?

Accepted Answer

The burden of proof resting on the prosecution

Answer

The presumption of innocence means the prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt; the defendant need not prove anything.

Question 5

A landlord enters a tenant's home without consent or notice to inspect the property. This is most likely to constitute:

Accepted Answer

Trespass to land

Answer

Trespass to land is the direct, unjustified interference with land in another's possession — here, the tenant's home.

LNAT Practice Test