DPP v Majewski [1977] AC 443

Court : House of Lords

Facts: D had been on a 48-hour drinking and drug-taking binge, during which he committed several assaults on police officers and others. He claimed that his extreme intoxication meant that he lacked the necessary mens rea for the offences and should not be held liable.

Held: The House of Lords upheld D's conviction, establishing the principle that voluntary intoxication is not a defence for crimes of basic intent (e.g., assault). The court reasoned that when a defendant voluntarily consumes intoxicants, he is held to have taken responsibility for any actions he commits while intoxicated.

💡Levelup : This case established a key principle in criminal law: voluntary intoxication cannot be used as a defence for crimes of basic intent. The Majewski rule asserts that intoxication may prevent the formation of specific intent but not basic intent.