The Lion King: Criminology Analysis

CIA Case #36987456

Suspect #1: Scar

Case Brief: R. V. Scar 2012-01-25

Scar is the brother of Mufasa, King of the Pridelands and as Mufasa's brother, Scar is next in line to take the thrown. Unfortunately for Scar his brother had a son, Simba who was now pushing Scar farther away from the crown. Out of greed and a thirst for power Scar made a friendly alliance with the lions natural enemies, the hyenas and began plotting to get rid of Simba. Scar entices Simba to go and explore a dangerous elephant graveyard and in the meantime has set a trap for three hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, Ed) to kill Simba. After having the plan fail because Simba had been rescued by his father Mufasa, Scar decides that he needs to kill both Mufasa and Simba in order to take power.

He leads Simba to a gorge, pretending that Mufasa has a surprise for him. The hyenas scare a herd of wildebeests into a crazed stampede down the gorge where Simba is waiting. When Scar "warns" Mufasa of this stampede, Mufasa rushes off and manages to save Simba, but when he struggles to get up a cliff side, Scar is waiting and throws him off. Later, he finds Simba by Mufasa's dead body and gets Simba to falsely believe he is responsible for Mufasa's death. Simba runs away from the Pridelands and Scar orders the hyenas to kill him (which once again fails). Later Scar kidnaps and imprisons Zazu, the Mufasa's Majordodo bird and loyal friend of the royal family. Scar keeps him as entertainment after Zazu begged not to be fed to the hyenas.

Charges:

First Degree Murder:

S.231 - (2) Murder is first degree murder when it is planned and deliberate.

(3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (2), murder is planned and deliberate when it is committed pursuant to an arrangement under which money or anything of value passes or is intended to pass from one person to another, or is promised by one person to another, as consideration for that other's causing or assisting in causing the death of anyone or counselling another person to do any act causing or assisting in causing that death.

Conspiracy to Commit Murder:

S.465 - (a) every one who conspires with anyone to commit murder or to cause another person to be murdered, whether in Canada or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a maximum term of imprisonment for life.

Traps likely to cause bodily harm/ death:

S.247 - Everyone is guilty of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, who with intent to cause death or bodily harm to a person, whether ascertained or not,

(a) Sets or places a trap, device or other thing that is likely to cause death or bodily harm to a person

(b) Being in occupation or possession of a place, knowingly permits such a trap, device or other thing to remain in that place.

Interpretation (abandon or expose):

S.214 - "Abandon" or "expose" includes

(a) A wilful omission to take charge of a child by person who is under a legal duty to do so, and

(b) Dealing with a child in a manner that is likely to leave that child exposed to risk without protection

Duty of persons to provide necessaries:

S.218 -Everyone who unlawfully abandons or exposes a child who is under the age of ten years, so that its life is likely to be endangered or its health is or is likely to be permanently injured,

(a) Is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or

(b) Is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months.

Kidnapping:

S.279 - (1) Every person commits an offence who kidnaps a person with intent

(a) To cause the person to be confined or imprisoned against the person's will

Court:

First Degree Murder

* Actus Reus - deliberately plotting and carrying out the death of Mufasa, and continually plotting and trying to carry out the death of Simba along with the hyenas. Scar is the one who gives the signal to start the stampede and then throws Mufasa into the stampede when it appears that Mufasa might live

* Mens Reus - Scar knew that by killing Simba and Mufasa that he would become King and rule the Pridelands, he fully understood that both their deaths was necessary to gain power

Conspiracy to Commit Murder

* Actus Reus - talking with the hyenas about killing Mufasa and Simba to take the Pridelands and becoming King for both Scar's and the hyena's benefit

* Mens Reus - Scar and the hyenas wanted power, food, and no rules or codes to follow and so they wanted Mufasa and Simba dead because they knew that meant their "freedom"

Traps likely to cause bodily harm/ death

* Actus Reus - Scar gave the hyenas the signal to start a stampede in order to kill Mufasa and Simba

* Mens