The fifth edition of this established work on criminal law now includes detailed discussion of major judicial pronouncements on dolus eventualis (Pistorius), the limits of common purpose liability in its active association form (Dewnath), robbery with aggravating circumstances (Masingili), treason (the Boeremag Treason trial), racketeering/retrospectivity (Savoi) and consensual child sexual experimentation (Teddy Bear Clinic).

With the important entry into force on 9 August 2015 of the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013, definitions of human trafficking and related offences have now become an integral part of our criminal law. Moreover, the transitional provisions on human trafficking in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 have been replaced with more detailed provisions under this Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013.

A significant amendment to abortion law has been effected by the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Act 1 of 2008 (assented to 12 February and promulgated 18 February 2008), following the Constitutional Court’s judgment in Doctors for Life International v Speaker of the National Assembly 2006 (6) SA 416 (CC).

Judgments of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Constitutional Court and legislative amendments relevant to criminal law up until the end of 2015 have been included in this fifth edition of Principles of Criminal Law.

• Table of Statutes
• Table of Cases
• Part One: Introduction to criminal justice
• Part Two: General principles of criminal liability
  • Section A: Overview
  • Section B: Unlawful conduct (actus reus)
  • Section C: Defences excluding unlawfulness
  • Section D: Capacity
  • Section E: Fault (mens rea)
  • Section F: Special forms of liability
  • Section G: Participation in crime
  • Section H: Incomplete or inchoate crimes
• Part Three: Specific crimes
  • Section A: Crimes against human life
  • Section B: Crimes against the person
  • Section C: Crimes against family life
  • Section D: Crimes against property
  • Section E: Crimes against community interests
  • Section F: Crimes against sexual morality
  • Section G: Collective welfare
  • Section H: Maintenance of the government of the state
  • Section I: Crimes against the administration of justice
  • Section J: Organised crime
• General index

• Law students
• Judiciary 
• Advocates 
• Attorneys 
• Academics 

Principles of Criminal Law 5th edition (2016) is a companion volume to Cases and Materials on Criminal Law 4th edition (2016) by the same author, and is a valuable resource for both students and practitioners.